Dillon Dingler and Kevin McGonigle hit two-run homers and Framber Valdez pitched seven scoreless innings as the Detroit Tigers defeated the host Seattle Mariners 11-0 on Wednesday afternoon.
The Tigers took two of three games in the series between American League wild-card contenders, winning the opener 8-0 on Tuesday.
Valdez (7-7) allowed five hits, walked two and struck out five.
The Tigers took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning against Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller (4-6), who hadn’t allowed an earned run in four previous starts against the Tigers, going 3-0.
McGonigle led off the game with a walk and, an out later, Dingler just cleared the fence in right-center. Dingler went 7 for 14 in the series with three homers — one in each game — and six RBIs. Riley Greene and Colt Keith followed with back-to-back doubles to score another run.
The Tigers increased their lead in the second when McGonigle hit a one-out single to right, moved to second on a groundout, and scored as Dingler singled to right to make it 4-0.
Detroit doubled its advantage with four runs in the seventh off reliever Cole Wilcox. Zach McKinstry drew a one-out walk and McGonigle went deep to right. Gleyber Torres singled to center and Dingler singled to right, with Torres scoring on a throwing error by Taylor Ward. With two outs, Keith lined a run-scoring single to center off Josh Simpson for an 8-0 lead.
Mariners outfielder Victor Robles pitched the top of the ninth, giving up five straight singles — and three runs — before getting the first out. Remarkably, he got Dingler to fly out to left with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Miller allowed four runs on five hits over five innings, with two walks and five strikeouts.
Mariners manager Dan Wilson served a one-game suspension after reliever Gabe Speier hit Torres with a pitch in the eighth inning Wednesday night, causing the benches to clear. Speier received a three-game ban but was appealing the decision, according to the MLB Players Association.
