DETROIT — Julio Rodriguez and Ty France hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning and the Seattle Mariners completed a three-game series sweep by defeating the Detroit Tigers 7-0 on Thursday.
France and Curt Casali drove in two runs apiece as the Mariners won for the sixth time in seven games. The Tigers were shut out for the 18th time this season.
“We’re getting better at the right time,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “I don’t think we’ve reached our ceiling yet and it’s a really high one.”
Logan Gilbert (11-5), who had gone winless in his previous nine starts, held Detroit to two hits and a walk while striking out nine in six innings. Gilbert’s last victory came on July 5.
“Logan has had a tremendous season,” Servais said. “He had a couple of starts against the Yankees that didn’t go so well. If you take those couple starts out, his numbers are awesome. He’s had a really good year for us, but it was nice to get him a win today.”
Gilbert established his fastball early, then frustrated the Tigers with his slider. His strikeout total tied a season high. He only notched a combined 15 strikeouts in his previous five starts.
“August wasn’t my best. I feel pretty good,” Gilbert said. “I didn’t feel like I was that far off. Hopefully, this is a good sign to keep rolling from here.”
Tigers starter Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4) surrendered six runs, five earned, and six hits in four innings.
Detroit rookie Riley Greene had two singles, extending his hitting streak to 10 games.
Seattle scored an unearned run in the first on Eugenio Suarez’s RBI single. Rodriguez blasted his 22nd homer on Eduardo Rodriguez’s first pitch of the third inning. France followed with his 17th homer.
The Mariners increased their lead to 6-0 in the fourth on Casali’s two-run double and France’s run-scoring single.
Outside of Greene, the Tigers only had two hits, none for extra bases. They also struck out 11 times.
“They clearly outplayed us,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “Offensively, we had a really tough time handling Gilbert’s fastball. The discouraging part is when there’s little to no offense.”
ROSTER MOVES
Mariners: LHP Matt Boyd was reinstated from the 60-day Injured List and OF Taylor Trammell was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma as major league rosters expanded to 28 players. Boyd, who made 143 starts for Detroit from 2015-21, was acquired from San Francisco. Trammell has appeared in 32 games with the Mariners this season, batting .235 with three home runs.
Boyd, who underwent flexor tendon surgery last year, recorded three groundouts during the eighth inning in his Seattle and season debut. Trammell batted ninth and went 0-for-3 with a walk.
Tigers: 1B Spencer Torkelson and INF Ryan Kreidler were called up from Triple A Toledo and RHP Michael Pineda (right triceps strain) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list. Pineda will start against Kansas City on Saturday. INF Zack Short was optioned to Toledo and RHP Rony Garcia (right shoulder soreness) was transferred to the 60-day IL.
UP NEXT
Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (5-5, 2.85 ERA) will start the opener of a three-game series in Cleveland on Friday. Castillo held the Guardians to one run while striking out 10 in six innings on Saturday but wound up with a no-decision.
