Mariners give Tigers 15th inning of pain

SEATTLE — The Mariners came back twice on Tuesday night, once in the late innings, and once in the really late innings, and beat the Tigers, 6-5, on a walk-off sac fly by Mike Zunino in the 15th.

“There’s something about this team,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “They believe in each other. It’s a fun group, they’ve got a lot of personality and we’re playing well.”

Seattle had fallen behind, 5-4, in the top of the frame when Tigers slugger Victor Martinez hit a leadoff home run off Friday’s scheduled Mariners starter, Ariel Miranda, breaking a 4-4 tie that had held since the eighth, when Kyle Seager’s three-run homer erased Detroit’s 4-1 lead.

Facing Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez in the 15th, Nelson Cruz drew a one-out walk, Adam Lind singled him to second and Seager singled home Cruz with another game-tying hit. Lind took third when Justin Upton bobbled the ball in left field.

That set the stage for Zunino, who hit a sky-high fly ball deep enough to drive in Lind and give Seattle its season-high fifth consecutive victory.

“We’ll be fine,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “I’ve said it many times. There’s no rearview mirror in baseball. These guys are veterans. They’ll put it behind them.”

Despite giving up a run in the 15th, Miranda got his first Major League win. Rodriguez fell to 1-3.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDSeager ties it twice: With the Mariners still trailing, 4-1, in the sixth inning, Seager struck out with the bases loaded. He made up for it and then some with his game-tying homer in the …

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