Paxton dominant as Mariners blank Tigers 8-0

In late January, in front of a large group of assembled media at the Mariners’ pre-spring training luncheon, Paxton embraced expectations – something he wasn’t as comfortable doing in past seasons. Seattle entered Wednesday night’s game at Detroit in last place in the AL West, but beat the Tigers 8-0 behind a fine performance from left-hander James Paxton.

Edwin Diaz closed out the victory with a scoreless ninth as the Mariners made it two in a row after absorbing a 19-9 pounding in Tuesday’s series opener.

At 10-13 following a series win over the Tigers, the Mariners are still trying to break out from their slow start, and a pair of big injuries early in the week did them no favors.

Seager dumped a single into center. Diaz closed it out for his third save.

Justin Upton #8 of the Detroit Tigers slaps hands with teammate Tyler Collins #18 after hitting a fourth inning home run during a Major League Baseball game against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park on April 25, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. He gave up just four hits and one walk in the dominant effort. Shoemaker (1-1) went five innings in his fifth start of the season. “You can give up runs, but you can’t walk guys, you can’t get behind hitters”. Tony Zych (1-0) was the victor, and Edwin Diaz pitched the ninth for his third save. I’ve got to be able to put them away, especially being ahead (in the count) 1-2. Rodriguez (1-2) was the loser.

Andrew Romine, Kinsler and Tyler Collins had two hits apiece that inning. With both outfielders dazed and on the ground, Cruz wisely hustled to second.

It was the Tigers’ first run in 15 innings. Even Heredia, who had just two career homers, couldn’t miss it. Cano went into a slide for a backhand stab at the ball, which caromed off his glove and rolled several feet away. It was ruled an error on Collins.

While the bad news of Seattle’s injuries has overshadowed what has happened on the field this week, there has been some significant progress made at the plate by the team’s big bats. He singled and doubled twice.

Cruz’s home run was his 11th at Comerica Park, tied for second-most among active players as visitors.

Mariners: RHP Steve Cishek (hip) is scheduled to pitch an inning for Double-A Arkansas, marking the first time he has pitched back-to-back days during his recovery process.

Losers of four of five and 8-13, with fewer wins that all but two AL clubs heading into Wednesday’s games, the Mariners are missing two (Hernandez and Drew Smyly) of their five projected starters from spring training, have already jettisoned starting CF Leonys Martin, hitting.111, for poor production, and benched starting 1B Danny Valencia for same.