Doug Fister returned from an injury to pitch seven strong innings for the Tigers against the Mariners, allowing no runs and no walks and leaving the game with a 2-0 lead. Octavio Dotel, forced into the closer role to the use of Jose Valverde in three straight games, made up for the missing walks. He only threw four of 15 pitches for strikes, setting up a game tying double by Jesus Montero and a walk-off sacrifice fly by John Jaso. The Mariners win the game 3-2.
Kudos to the Mariners bullpen, called into action early when Blake Beavan left the game after a ball hit his elbow. The relievers allowed one run in six innings, walking one and striking out eight. They kept Seattle in the game until Dotel melted down in the ninth.
Seattle won their third game in a row. They’re 3-1 since Eric Wedge benched Chone Figgins, and here’s what the offense looks like now.