Mariners tame Tigers as K-Rod’s struggles continue in Detroit

DETROIT — Kyle Seager and Ben Gamel lifted Seattle past Detroit — at closer Francisco Rodriguez’s expense.

Seager doubled off Rodriguez with one out in the ninth and Gamel followed with an RBI single to right-centre field in the Mariners’ 2-1 victory Thursday.

“Kyle had a great at-bat and I got a good look at what K-Rod was throwing.” Gamel said. “I knew he was going to throw me a change-up on 2-2 and that’s what I got.”

Rodriguez (1-2) has a 6.23 ERA in nine games this season.

“You saw exactly what happened,” he said. “I couldn’t get anybody out and it cost us the game.”

Tony Zych (1-0) was the winner and Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his third save.

The Mariners closed the series with two one-run victories after falling 19-9 in the opener.

Detroit starter Justin Verlander allowed one unearned run on five hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out eight after allowing 13 runs in his past two games.

“I knew right out of the gate that my arm felt cleaner than it has in the last couple starts,” Verlander said. “Everything was coming out better. I made an adjustment a couple starts back and it clicked today.”

Seattle starter Hisashi Iwakuma gave up an unearned run in 5 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits and a walk and struck out three.

“There were obviously two great pitching performances going out there,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Verlander was outstanding, but Hisashi matched him.”

Seattle broke a scoreless tie in the sixth. Nelson Cruz reached when centre-fielder Tyler Collins was given a two-base error for running into Jim Adduci as the right-fielder was about to catch a routine fly ball. Seager followed with an RBI single for the first run. Collins countered in the bottom of the inning, doubling and scoring.