SEATTLE (AP) — Dillon Dingler homered for the third straight game and finished with three hits and three RBIs as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Seattle Mariners 11-0 Thursday.
Detroit (56-59) won for the fifth time in six games and moved within a game of Texas in the race for the final American League wild-card spot. The Tigers have scored at least eight runs or more in seven of their last eight games.
The loss dropped Seattle (56-60) three games behind Houston in the AL West and 1 1/2 games out of the wild card. The Mariners, held scoreless for the second time in the series against Detroit, have been shut out 11 times this season, tied for most in the majors.
Framber Valdez limited the Mariners to five hits in seven innings and didn’t allow a run for the first time since June 16. He struck out five, walked two and didn’t allow a runner past second base. In his last four outings, Valdez has allowed four runs in 19 innings.
Kyle Finnegan worked the eighth inning and Brenan Hanifee worked the ninth and closed out the shutout.
Dingler’s 401-foot homer off Bryce Miller (4-6) in the first was his 26th of the season and most among AL catchers.
Miller needed 40 pitches to get through the first inning. Colt Keith’s RBI double gave Detroit an early 3-0 lead.
Miller settled down, pitching five innings and allowing four runs in five hits with five strikeouts.
Kevin McGonigle hit his 12th homer of the season – a two-run blast off Cole Wilcox in the seventh. Keith added an RBI single. McGonigle and Javier Báez each had two hits and two RBIs.
Mariners outfielder Victor Robles pitched the ninth and allowed thee runs on five hits.
Up next
Tigers RHP Keider Montero (8-6, 3.17 ERA) starts a series in San Francisco on Friday. The Giants have not named a starter.
Mariners RHP Logan Gilbert (8-6, 3.46 ERA) gets the start against visiting Tampa Bay and RHP Drew Rasmussen (10-5, 2.91).
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Mariners reliever Gabe Speier suspended for three games, manager Dan Wilson for one game
SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners reliever Gabe Speier has been given a three-game suspension after hitting Detroit’s Gleyber Torres with a pitch in the eighth inning of Wednesday night’s game. Speier is appealing the ban, according to the MLB Players Association. Mariners manager Dan Wilson was also suspended one-game and will serve his suspension in the series finale Thursday against the Tigers. Manny Acta will serve as the manager for the Mariners. Speier had relieved Bryan Woo in the eighth inning of Seattle’s 4-2 win. After getting the first two outs, Speier threw two inside fastballs to Torres, with the latter pegging him on the upper left leg.