Tigers 6, Mariners 2
SEATTLE -- Miguel Cabrera might be ready to make a run at another MVP season.
The top three hitters in Detroit's batting order were at it again Tuesday, piling up seven of the Tigers' 12 hits, and Cabrera, the defending AL MVP, did the most damage. Cabrera drove in Detroit's first four runs in a 6-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.
Cabrera sandwiched RBI singles in the first and seventh innings around a two-run homer in the fifth, leading the Tigers (8-5) to a 4-2 lead as they extended their winning streak to three games.
Detroit starter Doug Fister (3-0) controlled his former team for most of the night to make sure it was more than enough offense. Fister allowed four hits and two runs in seven innings. The Mariners got both runs in the fourth inning, with only one hit in the other eight innings.
While Tigers cleanup hitter Prince Fielder finally cooled off, going 0 for 5 with four strikeouts, the three hitters ahead of him continued to give Detroit plenty of offense. Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter each had two hits while combining for three runs and two RBI. Jackson and Hunter both drew bases-loaded walks in the eighth to account for Detroit's final two runs after Cabrera carried the load early on.
Jackson, Hunter and Fielder were all among the AL's top seven hitters going into Tuesday's game, but Cabrera stole the show against the Mariners. He went 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Cabrera had a two-out, two-run homer in the fifth to give Detroit a 3-2 lead and added a two-out RBI single for an insurance run in the seventh.
Cabrera had a chance to do a lot more damage in the eighth but struck out looking with the bases loaded to end that inning.
During their three-game winning streak, the Tigers have scored 23 runs off 36 hits.
Seattle's Aaron Harang, who was making his first start of the season after being acquired from Colorado in a trade last week, pitched five solid innings but allowed three runs off seven hits and was trailing 3-2 when he was relieved by Charlie Furbush to start the sixth. Harang had the lead until giving up Cabrera's home run in the top of the fifth.
Fister kept Safeco Field relatively quiet for three-plus innings in his second game back as an opposing pitcher. He retired the first 10 batters, helping the Tigers cling to a 1-0 lead before the Mariners got to him in the fourth.
Kyle Seager and Kendrys Morales had back-to-back doubles and Michael Morse followed with an RBI single for a 2-1 lead.
That proved to be the only damage Seattle could do, as the Mariners managed just one hit over the final five innings -- with only two balls getting out of the infield.
NOTES: The Mariners called up right-handed reliever Yoervis Medina from Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday, filling a roster spot after reliever Stephen Pryor was placed on the 15-day disabled list one day earlier. Pryor suffered a torn lat muscle in the eighth inning of Sunday's win over the Texas Rangers. ... Fielder was named the AL player of the week after going 12 for 19 (.632) with four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBI in six games. ... Seattle got two-thirds of its starting outfield back Tuesday, when Morse (hand) and Franklin Gutierrez (groin) returned after missing games. Starting right fielder Michael Saunders is still on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. ... Because both teams had Monday off, the Mariners and Tigers players all wore No. 42 on Tuesday to honor Jackie Robinson.
