SEATTLE -- Anibal Sanchez lasted five innings in his first start of the season, but the game was decided after he departed.
The Detroit Tigers squandered scoring opportunities and Tigers relievers gave up two home runs in the late innings as the Seattle Mariners won the series opener 6-2 Monday night at Safeco Field.
Both starting pitchers -- Sanchez for the Tigers and rookie Sam Gaviglio for the M's -- walked a tightrope, narrowly avoiding disaster in the early innings. But both surrendered only two runs and left with the game tied 2-2.
The Tigers' best chance to break the tie came in the sixth, when they loaded the bases against reliever Steve Cishek.