Tigers stay in hunt by blasting M’s

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have returned to their early-season form. The Seattle Mariners continue to go the other direction.

Brandon Inge hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning to help Detroit beat Seattle 12-6 Saturday night and move ahead of the Mariners in the American League wild-card race.

Ivan Rodriguez went 4 for 5 with a home run in the eighth for the Tigers, who trail the New York Yankees by three games for the playoff spot. The Mariners are five games back.

It was also the fourth win in a row for Detroit, the first time that’s happened since July.

“We’re playing good right now,” said Rodriguez. “That’s what we’ve got to keep doing, especially this time of season.”

Placido Polanco had three hits and drove in four runs and Timo Perez also had three hits for the Tigers, who have won the first two games of the three-game series.

Magglio Ordonez also drove in a pair of runs for Detroit.

The Mariners, who have lost 13 of their last 14, got home runs from Adrian Beltre and Yuniesky Betancourt.

“It was another tough game. We didn’t get any breaks,” said Seattle manager John McLaren. “The guys played hard and battled back, but we just couldn’t hold them.”

Reliever Zach Miner (3-3) allowed a run and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Detroit’s bullpen had struggled, but has been effective since the return of right-handed set-up men Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney from injuries.

Seattle scored a run in each of the first six innings but was held scoreless over the final three.

Rodney pitched a perfect eighth.

“The bullpen did a great job of being able to hold them right there,” Curtis Granderson said.

Detroit starter Nate Robertson lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits and three walks.

Jeff Weaver (6-12) gave up seven runs, six earned, on nine hits and two walks.

“I was too aggressive with my pitches and didn’t expand the zone,” Weaver said. “I take sole blame for not putting up zeros and keeping us in the game.”

Weaver began his major league career with the Tigers, where he spent 3 1/2 seasons.

But he hasn’t fared well against his first team with a 1-5 record and 6.25 ERA.