Seattle, WA – Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and four RBI, as the Detroit Tigers rolled over the Seattle Mariners, 6-2, in the opener of a three-game set at Safeco Field.
Detroit, winners in three straight, received another solid effort out of Doug Fister (3-0), who scattered two runs on four hits over seven innings of work.
Austin Jackson had a triple among his two hits along with two runs scored, a stolen base and an RBI. Torii Hunter also had two hits to extend his hitting streak to 10 games and knocked in a run, while Victor Martinez added three hits in the victory.
The recently acquired Aaron Harang (0-1) made his Seattle debut, lasting five innings and allowing three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. He was acquired last week from the Colorado Rockies.
"Once I got out there and got through that first inning, felt like I was able to get more of a rhythm, but I felt good," said Harang. "I was really please with the fact that I didn't have any walks, so I was happy about that."
The Mariners had just four hits, with Kendrys Morales and Michael Morse each driving in a run in the setback.
Jackson, who has reached base safely in all 13 games this season, led the game off with a triple and trotted home on Cabrera's base hit into left to give Detroit an early 1-0 lead.
The Mariners pushed two runs across off Fister in the fourth, but had very little success at the plate the rest of the game.
Kyle Seager reached on a one-out double and came home on Morales' two-bagger. Morse then pushed Morales across with a single to center to put the Mariners ahead, 2-1.
Fister, though, would give up just one hit over his final three innings of work.
"I felt pretty good, felt like I kept the ball down for the most part in most cases, was able to throw my breaking stuff over," said Fister. "But the biggest thing was defense, those guys made some great plays."
Al Alburquerque and Joaquin Benoit each turned in a perfect inning of relief, with each striking out two batters.
The Tigers' offense scored two runs in the fifth to take the lead for good on the bat of Cabrera, who stroked a two-run homer for a 3-2 Tigers' advantage. Hunter had reached base with a two-out single the at-bat prior.
Cabrera extended the lead to 4-2 in the seventh with his fourth RBI. Jackson singled and stole second before sprinting home on Cabrera's base hit into left.
The Tigers then added their final two runs in the eighth when Jackson and Hunter each drew bases loaded walks off Bobby LaFromboise and Yoervis Medina, respectively.
Game Notes
Detroit's Prince Fielder went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, ending his nine- game hitting streak ... Harang made his first American League start since 2003 ... Medina made his big-league debut ... Seattle went 5-1 versus Detroit last season ... The Tigers were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
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