Elias spins shutout as Mariners blank Tigers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Roenis Elias tossed his first shutout as the Seattle Mariners blanked the Detroit Tigers, 4-0, in the rubber match of a three-game set.
Elias (4-4) fanned eight and surrendered just three hits and a walk. Brad Miller homered while James Jones, Michael Saunders, and Willie Bloomquist each drove in a run for the Mariners, who have won three of their last five games.
"I feel like he has gotten better and better every start," said Mariners catcher Mike Zunino on Elias. "For him to go out there and piece together nine great innings and come with a big win against a big team, it was good morale for the team as we head over to New York."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Max Scherzer (6-2), who entered the game with wins in his last six decisions, was tagged with the loss after giving up all four runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts across 6 2/3 frames.
Torii Hunter, Nick Castellanos and Bryan Holaday each supplied a hit as Detroit's offense went cold, managing just four baserunners against the rookie left-hander.
"Today, I just thought we were flat," said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. "It was just one of those days were we made quick easy outs and didn't put up much of a fight."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Mariners opened the scoring in the first. Endy Chavez led off with a double to left and raced home two batters later on Saunders' double to left.
Dustin Ackley opened the bottom of the fifth with a sharp single to center. After Miller struck out, Ackley stole second and scored on Bloomquist's double to right-center. Two batters later, Jones singled to right to plate Bloomquist, making it a 3-0 game.
Miller crushed a 1-0 changeup into the right-field seats for his fourth homer of the season, giving the Mariners a 4-0 cushion in the seventh.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Game Notes
Seattle won its first home series since April 25-27 vs. Texas ... Saunders extended his hitting streak to six games ... Seattle second baseman Robinson Cano missed his fourth straight game with a left hand contusion ... Miller's homer was his first since April 11 against Oakland.