Eugenio Suárez Delivers Late-Game Dagger as Tigers Top Mariners

The Detroit Tigers watched their postseason dreams take a hit in Game 3 of the American League Division Series. They fell 8-4 to the Seattle Mariners.

Now, Seattle leads 2-1 in the best-of-five set and grabs back home-field advantage with a crucial Game 4 looming. Detroit’s offense stayed cold until a late rally, while Seattle’s bats got rolling early and never cooled off. That leaves the Tigers teetering on the edge of elimination.

Mariners’ Offensive Depth Proves Too Much for Detroit

Seattle’s lineup looked balanced and relentless all night. Every spot chipped in, making things rough for Tigers pitchers.

The Mariners got a big home run from Eugenio Suárez. His blast stung for Tigers fans who had hoped he’d wear the Old English D after all those trade rumors. Cal Raleigh added another homer, helping the Mariners jump out to an early lead.

Suárez’s Homer Adds Salt to the Wound

When Suárez went deep in the early innings, it wasn’t just another number on the scoreboard. His name kept coming up in Detroit’s trade talks this summer, so watching him hurt the Tigers felt like a missed opportunity.

Jack Flaherty’s Strong Start Quickly Unravels

Detroit starter Jack Flaherty opened with a solid first inning. But things changed fast after that.

He threw 26 pitches in the second, and his command started slipping. By the third, he just couldn’t locate his pitches like he needed to.

Turning Point in the Third Inning

Flaherty faced a long at-bat against Josh Naylor that really showed his struggles. Seattle took advantage, stringing together hits and knocking in runs. Suddenly, Detroit found itself in a hole it couldn’t climb out of.

Tigers’ Small-Ball Approach Falls Short

Manager A.J. Hinch tried to shake things up with aggressive moves and patient at-bats. In the fifth, Parker Meadows dropped down a bunt that led to a run, briefly cutting the gap.

Still, it just highlighted how hard Detroit found it to get extra-base hits or any real power against Seattle’s arms.

Lack of Sustained Offense

The Tigers sometimes worked deep counts, but couldn’t keep the line moving. Their only real burst came with a late three-run rally off reliever Caleb Ferguson, and by then, it was just too late to matter.

Key Factors in Detroit’s Game 3 Loss

Several things sank the Tigers on this one:

• Early Mariners dominance: Seattle struck fast and made Detroit chase the rest of the way.
• Flaherty’s command issues: Long innings and missed spots gave Seattle too many chances.
• Offensive limitations: Detroit’s small-ball approach just didn’t stack up against the Mariners’ power.
• Missed opportunities: The Tigers left too many runners stranded at key times.

Looking Ahead to Game 4

Detroit’s got its back against the wall now. They’ll hand the ball to Casey Mize next, hoping he can bring both poise and sharp command to keep their season alive.

The Challenge Ahead

The Mariners head into Game 4 with all the momentum. Their lineup keeps producing, and their roster’s deep.

Can Detroit match that energy and finally spark something at the plate? They’ll need to—because so far, the big moments have been too few and far between this October.

Final Thoughts

This Game 3 loss really summed up Detroit’s postseason headaches. There were moments where they showed some fight, but it just wasn’t enough to get over the hump.

If the Tigers want to flip this series, sharper pitching is non-negotiable. They also need an offensive plan that actually cracks Seattle’s pitching, which is easier said than done.

The stakes? They’re sky-high right now. One more loss and that’s it for the season. But a win? Well, at least the dream hangs on for another day.

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Here is the source article for this story: Of course it was Eugenio Suárez – who Tigers fans begged for – who hit Mariners’ dagger