SEATTLE — Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire noticed the smile Joe Jimenez wore in the dugout after striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night in Seattle.
The Tigers took the lead in the top of the eighth on a two-out, two-run single by José Iglesias. Jimenez came on to face the heart of the Mariners’ order in the bottom of the inning and got through it on 14 pitches, 10 of them strikes.
The Tigers went on to a 3-2 win in the opener of a four-game series at Safeco FIeld.
Jimenez struck out Mitch Haniger looking and Kyle Seager and Ryon Healy swinging.