Mariners back at .500 after 5-1 loss to Detroit
DETROIT (AP) - The Seattle Mariners have fallen all the way back to .500.
Hisashi Iwakuma allowed three home runs - two to Steven Moya - and the Mariners lost 5-1 to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. It was Seattle's fifth straight loss and its 18th in the last 26 games. The Mariners (36-36) are now 10 1/2 games behind first-place Texas in the AL West.
"You want to play well, which we did for an extended time," Seattle manager Scott Servais said. "Unfortunately, it's flipped on us for a number of different reasons."
Miguel Cabrera also went deep for Detroit, and reliever Kyle Ryan (2-2) helped the Tigers stay comfortably ahead after starter Michael Fulmer went through some control problems in the fifth. Ryan came on with one out in that inning and the bases loaded, with Detroit up 4-1. He retired all five hitters he faced, striking out three.
Iwakuma (6-6) allowed five runs and 11 hits in 4 2/3 innings.
The 24-year-old Moya hit a solo shot to right in the fourth and another to left the following inning.
Fulmer allowed a run and three hits in 4 1/3 innings. He's yielded only three runs in 44 1/3 innings over his last seven starts, but he didn't last long enough for the win Wednesday.
With Detroit up 4-0, Fulmer allowed a walk and a one-out single in the fifth. He then hit two consecutive batters to force in Seattle's only run of the night.
Ryan came in and struck out pinch-hitter Franklin Gutierrez before retiring Robinson Cano on a groundout.
"Kyle Ryan was definitely the key," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "Coming in with the bases loaded, get those two guys, one of them being Robinson Cano, that was an outstanding job. And then his second inning was real sharp as well."
Cabrera gave Detroit a 1-0 lead in the first with his 16th homer of the season, and Jose Iglesias hit a two-run double in the second.
Iwakuma failed to make it through the fifth inning for the first time since Aug. 24, when he also pitched 4 2/3 in a loss to Oakland.
Fulmer retired 10 in a row before the fifth, and after he was taken out, the Detroit bullpen retired all 14 hitters it faced.
POWER OUTAGE
Seattle was held without a home run for the first time in 15 games.
"I don't want to say we're trying too hard," said Cano, whose liner to left with a man on in the first was caught. "We hit a lot of balls, just right at them. First at-bat, hit right at them. If I'm able to drive it, you don't know what could happen in that inning."
A BIT OFF
Fulmer said he wasn't feeling well - he complained afterward of lightheadedness and dizziness.
"I just kind of woke up this morning not feeling the best. I should've done a better job of executing my pitches, get some quick innings in, but I tried to ease up a little bit, not overexert myself," Fulmer said. "Just a little shortness of breath, trying to catch my breath."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Mariners: Servais said RHP Taijuan Walker (right foot) will probably be able to pitch during the next homestand. ... Star RHP Felix Hernandez (right calf strain) is making progress in his recovery. "I think he threw (Tuesday) out to 75 feet for about 7 or 8 minutes," Servais said. "He's picking up pace on his progression."
UP NEXT
Mariners: Seattle tries to avoid a four-game sweep Thursday when Adrian Sampson (0-1) takes the mound against Detroit.
Tigers: Daniel Norris (0-0) makes his first start of the season. The Tigers acquired him when they traded David Price to Toronto last year. Detroit optioned RHP Dustin Molleken to Triple-A Toledo after Wednesday's game to make room for Norris.
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Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister