SEATTLE -- Two hours into Wednesday night's game, it looked like the Detroit Tigers were delivering exactly the kind of game they needed to break out of a lengthy slump.
* Justin Verlander, in the midst of a perfect game, was in 2016 form.
* The Tigers offense had gotten to a top pitcher, Seattle's James Paxton.
* The sometimes shaky bullpen might only be needed for an inning or two, if that.
Of course, everything soon unraveled, as the Tigers lost a four-run lead and fell to the Mariners 7-5.
The Tigers have now lost five games in a row for the first time since Aug.