Kevin McGonigle ripped a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the ninth and the host Detroit Tigers rallied past the Seattle Mariners for a 5-4 victory on Sunday afternoon.
McGonigle lined a single to right off closer Andres Munoz (3-4), allowing Detroit to capture the series, 2-1. McGonigle also had a solo homer, while Wenceel Perez supplied a two-run triple.
Will Vest (2-4) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Jack Flaherty gave up three runs with seven strikeouts in five innings.
Josh Naylor had two hits, scored a run and knocked in another to lead the Mariners’ offense. Luis Castillo gave up one run in 5 2/3 innings.
Seattle took a 1-0 lead in the third. Colt Emerson led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Cole Young’s single.
Detroit tied it in the fourth on McGonigle’s leadoff homer. The rookie jumped on a Castillo slider and drove it over the right field wall for his fourth long ball.
The Mariners took the lead in the top of the sixth. Julio Rodriguez reached on a single and advanced on left fielder Riley Greene’s throwing error. Naylor then pulled a Flaherty pitch down the right field line for a double to score Rodriguez.
After a walk, Drew Sommers replaced Flaherty. A sacrifice bunt moved up both runners and Patrick Wisdom was intentionally walked with two outs. Sommers then hit Emerson with a pitch, forcing in a run to make it 3-1.
Seattle scored a run against Kyle Finnegan in the seventh. Rodriguez walked, stole second and third, and scored on Arozarena’s single.
Detroit rallied against Cooper Criswell in the bottom of the inning. Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry started it off with singles and Perez drove in both runners with a triple to right. Gabe Speier then came in retired the next three batters, leaving Perez stranded.
Walks to Zach McKinstry and Perez set up McGonigle’s game-winner.
–Field Level Media
