Castellanos Has 4 RBIs, Tigers Win 12-5
JOSH LIEBESKIND, Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) — Detroit manager Brad Ausmus doesn't think hitting is contagious. J.D. Martinez disagrees, and has significant proof to point to after Monday's win over the Seattle Mariners.
Martinez got three of the Tigers' 19 hits, as Detroit scored nine runs in the sixth and seventh innings to pull away for a 12-5 win over the Mariners.
"I'm a firm believer hitting is always contagious," said Martinez, whose solo home run in the fourth gave him 11 in his last 13 games. "You get a couple good guys in the lineup, a couple good at-bats, all of a sudden the pitcher starts losing confidence and . everybody else just keeps feeding off of it."
The Tigers lost Miguel Cabrera to a strained left calf when he went on the disabled list on Saturday. Without the All-Star first baseman, Ausmus wondered where the offensive production would come from.
The results from Monday's romp are a good way to cover the hole left in the lineup with Cabrera's absence, even if it's not sustainable. Nick Castellanos led the way with four hits — a season high — and four RBI, which ties a season high.
"It's not something that's going to happen every day," Martinez said. "That would be the best team in history, offensively."
After Cespedes' home run in the sixth cut the Mariners lead to 5-4, Victor Martinez singled to chase Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma.
Mayckol Guaipe (0-1) was unable to record an out in three attempts and was bounced from the game by a two-run single from Castellanos that gave the Tigers a 6-5 lead.
The Tigers went on to score five runs in the sixth to take an 8-5 advantage. Detroit tacked on another four in the seventh to put the game out of reach.
"We hit the ball well, we took advantage of opportunities with men in scoring position," Ausmus said.
The offensive outburst was enough to give Alfredo Simon (8-5) the win. Simon allowed five runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win.
Mariners starter Hisashi Iwakuma allowed five runs on eight hits in five-plus innings. He struck out three in his return from a strain in his back and right shoulder area that sent him to the disabled list in April.
He threw strikes and he was healthy," interim Mariners manager Trent Jewett said. "Those are important factors. I don't think he commanded the ball probably the way he prefers, but he came out of it healthy."
Dustin Ackley hit an RBI triple and Brad Miller followed immediately with a run-scoring double in the fourth to cut the Tigers' lead to 3-2. Logan Morrison hit a three-run home run in the fifth to put the Mariners up 5-3.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: With first baseman Miguel Cabrera on the disabled list with a left calf strain, Detroit has had to look elsewhere at the position. On Monday, the team claimed Marc Krauss off waivers from Tampa Bay. Krauss is expected to split time at the bag with Jefry Marte, as well as Andrew Romine.
Mariners: Iwakuma made his return from the disabled list Monday. The right-hander hadn't appeared in a major league game since April 20 due to the strain.
CLEAN BULLPEN WORK
Blaine Hardy, Ian Krol and Bruce Rondon combined to pitch 3 2/3 scoreless innings in relief for the Tigers. Only Krol allowed a hit and he erased the single with a double play.
HOME RUN HAPPY
Castellanos started the scoring with a solo home run in the second. Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez hit back-to-back home runs in the fourth and Yoenis Cespedes added a solo shot to lead off the deciding sixth.
MORRISON'S POWER SURGE
Morrison hit 11 home runs last season. His three-run shot in the fifth gave him 11 this year with half the season to play.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Rookie Kyle Ryan gets the nod. Ryan, who has started and come out of the bullpen this season, holds a 4.55 ERA and hasn't had a scoreless outing in seven attempts.
Mariners: Taijuan Walker attempts to follow up one of his best career starts Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers. The young right-hander allowed one hit in six shutout innings to pick up the win at San Diego on July 1.
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