SEATTLE (AP) — Ryan Court drove in three runs in his first big league start, rookie Austin Nola also had three RBIs and the Seattle Mariners beat the Detroit Tigers 8-1 Saturday.
The Mariners have their longest winning streak since April. The Tigers lost their fifth in a row and fell 40 games below .500 — at 30-70, they’ve been held to one or fewer runs 22 times this season.
Nola hit a two-run triple in the fourth inning and the 31-year-old Court, who lined out as a pinch-hitter a day earlier in his debut, had an RBI single for his first hit and a 3-1 lead.
Nola added an RBI double in the four-run seventh inning and Court matched him with a two-run, ground-rule double to make it 8-1.
The Mariners started three rookies in the game with Dylan Moore at shortstop. Court, who played right field and first base, is the 58th player to suit up for the Mariners and the 13th rookie to make his debut with Seattle this year.
Omar Narvaez had four hits for Seattle and Tim Beckham doubled twice, singled and scored two runs.
Marco Gonzales (12-8) is 7-2 in his last nine starts since June 7. He’s given up more than three runs just once in that stretch. He scattered six hits over seven innings.
Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Detroit Tigers hits single off of starting pitcher Marco Gonzales #7 of the Seattle Mariners during the second inning of a game at T-Mobile Park on July 27, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Tigers starter Tyler Alexander (0-1) struck out nine, but only made it through 4 1/3 innings after giving up eight hits and four runs.
OUTFIELD HELP
With two starting outfielders injured, the Mariners claimed Keon Broxton off waivers from Baltimore. Broxton was designated for assignment on July 21. He started the season with the New York Mets, playing 34 games before being acquired by Baltimore for international bonus pool money. He’s batting .184 in 71 games.
The Mariners moved reliever Connor Sadzeck (right elbow inflammation) to the 60-day injured list to make room on the roster.
Also, the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed reliever Parker Markel off waivers from the Mariners. He was designated for assignment on July 23.
HR STREAK ENDS
The Mariners or their opponents failed to hit a home run in a game for the first time this season, ending a major league record streak of 107 games in which at least one team hit a homer.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Mariners: Dee Gordon could be ahead of schedule for a return from a right quad strain. The knot in his muscle has resolved and manager Scott Servais said he’d likely begin baseball activities again when the team heads out on the road next week. He’s eligible to return Aug. 2. . Domingo Santana returned to the lineup as a designated hitter, hitting in the No. 2 spot. He is not throwing and will not return to right field until inflammation in his right elbow subsides. . Closer Hunter Strickland has cleared the final hurdle in his return from a right lat strain that put him on the 60-day injured list and will make his return to the roster Sunday or early in next week’s road trip.
UP NEXT
Tigers: LHP Matthew Boyd (6-8, 4.07 ERA), a Mercer Island, Washington, native is third in the American League with 12 strikeouts per nine innings.
Mariners: Seattle will use an opener and then turn to LHP Tommy Milone (1-5, 4.45 ERA). Milone is trying to snap a four-game losing streak.
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