Mariners rookie pitcher Pineda tames Tigers to complete series sweep
Detroit, MI, United States (AHN Sports) – Michael Pineda continues to get the job done in his rookie season with the Seattle Mariners.
Luis Rodriguez belted a three-run homer and Pineda pitched six strong innings as the Seattle Mariners completed a three-game series road sweep over the Detroit Tigers 7-2 Thursday at Comerica Park.
The 22-year-old Pineda, 4-1, went six innings to pick up the win, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out nine.
Justin Smoak’s RBI double in the top of the fourth inning gave the Mariners a 3-2 lead and Miguel Olivo’s solo homer in the sixth made it a two-run game.
Detroit had taken a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on Alex Avila’s two-run double. Pineda struggled in that inning, allowing two walks and two hits.
“The third inning, I made adjustment and threw the ball down,” he said.
“We’ve been through so many things,” Olivo said. “Now we’re just coming to the field ready to hit the ball.”
Seattle tied it in the top of the third on an RBI double by Ichiro Suzuki and an RBI fielder’s choice for Chone Figgins.
Smoak doubled home Milton Bradley in the fourth. Olivo’s homer in the sixth was his second of the season and came off Detroit starter Brad Penny.
“He threw me a hanging breaking ball and I hit it,” Olivo said.
Rodriguez’s three-run homer in the top of the eighth was his first of the season and came off of Detroit reliever Ryan Perry.
David Pauley and Jamey Wright finished in relief for the Mariners.
“We ran into a good pitcher,” said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. “He pitched pretty good. He had command. We have guys who aren’t hitting. But they’ll hit.”
That includes leadoff hitter Austin Jackson, who batted .293 in his rookie season. He was hitless in five at bats on Thursday and is at .167.
“I think it will come, I really do,” Leyland said. “The main thing is the toughness you need mentally when you get into one of those things because people are talking to you about it. People are writing about it and calling in about it. He has to stay tough mentally. You have to just about isolate your own mind to fight through it. It’s going to happen.”
Penny, 1-3, took the loss after seven innings, allowing four runs on nine hits.
Pineda’s ERA is 2.01.
“I’m excited because my last four starts I’ve won,” he said. “To win three here, I’m excited.”
Seattle leaves Detroit at 11-15 while the Tigers fall to 12-13.
“It’s a humbling game,” Leyland said. “Three days ago, we were really happy after sweeping a series against Chicago. All of a sudden, we’re not happy because we had a bad series against Seattle. Give them credit, they came in and beat us.”
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