Mariners Edge Closer to AL Championship Series
Detroit – The Seattle Mariners are just a step away from reaching the AL Championship Series for the first time in 24 years.
On Tuesday night, Cal Lowry powered the team ahead with a two-run homer alongside Eugenio Suarez and JP Crawford, leading to an 8-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
If they win Game 5, which will be played on Wednesday afternoon if necessary, it could mark their first appearance in an AL Championship Series since 2001.
“The Seattle Mariners deserve this moment,” Suarez stated.
Detroit’s manager, AJ Hinch, expressed his resolve to bounce back after a tough regular season and their earlier elimination of Cleveland in the Wild Card Series, including a Game 1 triumph against Seattle.
“We’ve been in situations where we’ve had to fight hard,” Hinch mentioned. “I believe our guys are ready for this.”
Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert had a strong performance, allowing just one run and seven hits while going seven innings without a walk.
“What Logan did tonight was incredible,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson remarked. “He navigated through everything brilliantly.”
In the ninth inning, Cal Raleigh, who had an impressive 60 home runs during the regular season, launched a 391-foot two-run shot to left center, increasing the lead to 8-1.
Meanwhile, the struggling Tigers managed only four hits throughout the game and made a ninth-inning push against Caleb Ferguson.
Spencer Torkelson achieved a two-run double, followed by an RBI single from Andy Ibanez, but the Tigers’ efforts fell short.
Nearby All-Star Andres Munoz came in to seal the game, halting Detroit’s comeback dreams with a flyout and a game-ending double play.
Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty struggled, lasting just 3¹/₃ innings while allowing four hits and three walks, leading to four runs against him.
Seattle opened the scoring in the third inning with two runs from three hits and a walk.
Victor Robles contributed to the lead with a double that scored on a misplay by left fielder Riley Greene, whose throw failed to connect with catcher Dillon Dingler.
“We keep breaking down in crucial moments,” Hinch noted.
Randy Arozarena kicked off the scoring with an RBI single that gave Seattle a 2-0 lead in the third. Suarez then sent a soaring 422-foot shot to left field, extending the advantage to 3-0, followed by Raleigh’s two-out RBI single to create a four-run gap.
The Tigers, hopeful for more success in their first home game in over two weeks, instead faced their eighth consecutive loss at Comerica Park.
Detroit finally got on the board later in the game when Kelly Carpenter’s fielder’s choice led to a scoring opportunity. Crawford’s throw mishap allowed Dingler to score.
Crawford’s homer in the sixth added another critical run for Seattle, restoring their four-run lead.
Amidst a challenging eighth inning, the Tigers allowed Seattle to score again after Carpenter’s dropped fly ball, which let Rawley reach third before scoring on Crawford’s sacrifice fly.
