Javier Baez hit a two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and the host Detroit Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners with a 2-1 victory on Thursday afternoon.
His sixth homer of the season was just Detroit’s third hit of the game and second by Baez. A quartet of Tigers pitchers held the Mariners to one hit.
Kenta Maeda tossed 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and Shelby Miller (6-7) got four outs and picked up the win. Jason Foley notched his 16th save as Detroit won its fourth straight game.
Seattle starter Bryce Miller allowed just two hits and struck out nine in seven scoreless innings.
Detroit starter Alex Faedo handed the Mariners a lead in the only inning he pitched. He issued walks to Jorge Polanco, Randy Arozarena, Luke Raley and Justin Turner to force in a two-out run. Faedo induced a Dominic Calzone groundout to escape further damage.
The first hit of the game was Baez’s two-out single in the bottom of the third. Justyn-Henry Malloy grounded out to end the inning.
Miller struck out the side in the fourth, setting down Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith and Dillon Dingler.
Seattle’s only hit came with one out in the fifth, as Victor Robles smacked a double to left off Maeda. Robles then stole third before Polanco walked. A short flyout by Arozarena and a lineout by Cal Raleigh kept the score at 1-0.
The Tigers had a runner in scoring position in the fifth when Parker Meadows singled and stole second. Akil Baddoo popped out to end the inning.
Dylan Moore was hit by a pitch leading off the seventh. He stole second but was left stranded as Robles and Polanco flied out.
Meadows drew a leadoff walk against Yimi Garcia in the eighth and stole second. He moved up on a one-out groundout before Garcia was replaced by closer Andres Munoz (2-4).
Baez blasted a slider over the left-center field wall to give Detroit the lead. It was the first hit Munoz had given up since July 4.