Julio Rodriguez’s run-scoring double with one out in the bottom of the eighth broke a tie as the Seattle Mariners defeated the visiting Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Sunday night to even their best-of-five American League Division Series at one game apiece.
Jorge Polanco hit a pair of solo homers for the Mariners, both off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Game 3 of the best-of-five series is scheduled for Tuesday in Detroit. The Tigers won the series opener 3-2 in 11 innings Saturday in Seattle.
Trailing 2-0, the Tigers tied the score with an unearned run in the eighth off Mariners reliever Matt Brash (1-0). Gleyber Torres drew a leadoff walk and, one out later, Riley Greene reached on first baseman Josh Naylor’s fielding error. Spencer Torkelson hit a liner down the right field line for a double that scored both runners to make it 2-2.
With one out in the bottom of the inning, Cal Raleigh doubled into the right field corner off Kyle Finnegan (1-1). Rodriguez followed with a liner down the left field line to break the tie.
Mariners closer Andres Munoz, who pitched two innings in the opener, worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.
Skubal, who is the favorite to win a second consecutive AL Cy Young Award, allowed two runs on five hits over seven innings. The left-hander, who went to Seattle University, walked one and struck out nine.
Polanco broke a scoreless tie with one out in the fourth inning, hitting a 2-0 slider from Skubal into the Mariners’ bullpen in left-center field.
Polanco doubled Seattle’s advantage with two outs in the sixth, lining a 3-2 sinker over the wall in the left field corner.
Mariners starter Luis Castillo was effectively wild. He didn’t allow a hit until two outs in the fifth inning when Torres grounded a single through the right side of the infield with second baseman Polanco covering the bag on Parker Meadows’ stolen-base attempt.
That was it for Castillo, as Mariners manager Dan Wilson called upon left-hander Gabe Speier to face Kerry Carpenter, who homered in a similar spot in Game 1. Speier struck out Carpenter with runners at the corners to end the inning.
Castillo gave up one hit over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, with four walks and three strikeouts.
