Mariners club 3 homers, push Tigers to brink of elimination

DETROIT -- J.P. Crawford, Eugenio Suarez and Cal Raleigh each belted home runs, sending the Seattle Mariners to an 8-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers following a nearly three-hour rain delay in Game 3 of their American League Division Series on Tuesday.

Seattle pitcher Logan Gilbert struck out seven and allowed only four hits over six innings in his second career postseason start. He combined with relievers Matt Brash, Eduard Bazardo, Caleb Ferguson and Andres Munoz to strike out nine.

The Mariners, who lead the best-of-five series 2-1, can clinch their first trip to the American League Championship Series since 2001 with a win in Game 4 on Wednesday in Detroit.

The Tigers have dropped eight straight games at home and have not won in Detroit since Sept. 6 against the Chicago White Sox.

The Mariners jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Victor Robles scored from third when the throw from Riley Greene in left field got away from catcher Dillon Dingler, allowing Robles to beat the tag at the plate. Randy Arozarena then singled to center to bring home Crawford.

Seattle added a pair of runs in the fourth inning as Suarez hit his first home run of the postseason to center field off Detroit starter Jack Flaherty and Cal Raleigh singled up the middle to send Dominic Canzone home from second.

Flaherty, who was making his 11th career playoff start, allowed three runs on four hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Dingler scored to cut the deficit to 4-1 in the fifth inning when Kerry Carpenter grounded into a force out.

Crawford pushed the margin to 5-1 in the sixth with his homer to right field off reliever Brant Hurter. He later flied out to left field in the eighth inning to score Luke Raley.

Raleigh upped the lead to 8-1 in the ninth inning with his two-run shot to center off Brenan Hanifee that scored Arozarena.

Detroit mounted a late rally on Spencer Torkelson's double that brought home Jake Rogers and Jahmai Jones, and Andy Ibanez's single that scored Torkelson.

--Bob Tripi, Field Level Media