Tigers at Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have fired off three straight victories and look to record another triumph when they host the Detroit Tigers on Saturday afternoon for the third contest of their four-game series. The Mariners came away with a 3-2 victory on Friday, giving them their first three-game winning streak since June 23-26.
Mallex Smith delivered his first career walkoff hit on Friday, lining a run-scoring single to center field with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. The Mariners dropped 16 of 20 games before outscoring their opponents 18-7 during their winning streak. The Tigers have lost four straight contests and 15 of 17 en route to the worst record in the major leagues (30-69). Detroit is just 1-13 against American League West teams, with the lone win coming versus the Los Angeles Angels on May 8.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Tyler Alexander (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (11-8, 4.37)
Alexander, who will be making his third career start, is coming off a solid effort despite not being involved in the decision. The 25-year-old TCU product allowed just one run and three hits in seven innings against Toronto on Sunday. Alexander permitted two solo homers among five hits over five frames in his major-league debut on July 3 against the Chicago White Sox.
Gonzales has gone 6-2 over his last eight starts, giving up fewer than three earned runs in six of the outings. The 27-year-old product of Gonzaga defeated Texas on Monday, when he allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings. Gonzales is 0-1 with a 3.09 ERA in two career starts against the Tigers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners C Tom Murphy's two-run homer on Friday was his first blast since July 5.
2. Detroit 1B Brandon Dixon ended his 12-game home-run drought with a solo shot on Friday.
3. Seattle placed 2B Tim Lopes (jaw) on the 7-day concussion list one day after he was beaned in the face, purchased the contract of SS Ryan Court - who lined out in his major-league debut on Friday - from Triple-A Tacoma and transferred INF Ryon Healy (back) to the 60-day injured list.