Tigers edge M's in slugfest, 9-7

DETROIT – Omar Infante drove in a career-high four runs, Gary Sheffield homered and the Detroit Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 9-7 Tuesday night for their eighth straight victory.

The Tigers’ winning streak is their longest of the season and the best current string in the majors.

Right fielder Magglio Ordonez sealed the victory with a running grab on Richie Sexson’s sinking liner for the final out. The Mariners had a runner on base when Ordonez made his catch near the line.

Sexson’s three-run homer gave Seattle a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but Detroit tied it the next inning and went ahead with another three-run burst in the fourth.

Infante’s double and triple were the big hits in the three-run innings and his RBI single in the sixth put the Tigers ahead 7-5.

Sheffield gave Detroit a three-run lead in the seventh with a solo shot — his fourth homer in six games — off Sean Green. Brandon Inge was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded later in the inning.

Detroit ended up needing the extra runs.

Yuniesky Betancourt’s two-out, two-run single off Fernando Rodney in the eighth inning made it 9-7. Todd Jones closed it with his 13th save in 15 opportunities.

Jeremy Bonderman (2-0) gave up five runs and seven hits over six innings, picking up his second straight win despite another shaky start. He allowed four earned runs in five innings in his previous outing after giving up just 12 runs in his first five starts, all no-decisions.

Horacio Ramirez (2-2) allowed seven runs and 11 hits — matching the career high he gave up in his last start — over 5 2-3 innings.

Infante played center field, as he does in place of Curtis Granderson against left-handed starters, and he took advantage of being in the lineup.

The utility player has hits in eight of the nine games he has started this season in center, at shortstop, second base and as a designated hitter. He also played in right this season after entering the game as a pinch-hitter.

Infante hit the third of four doubles for the Tigers in the second inning, helping them tie the game at 3. Infante’s two-run triple in the fourth put Detroit ahead 5-4 and Inge followed with an RBI single, scoring Infante for a two-run lead.

Seattle pulled within a run on Kenji Johjima’s two-out RBI single in the sixth.

After another single, Tigers manager Jim Leyland walked to the mound to say a few words to Bonderman and kept him in the game. Bonderman made that a good move, striking out Jose Lopez to end the inning.