DETROIT (Interstat) — Facing playoff elimination, the Detroit Tigers’ offense erupted for nine unanswered runs, turning a three-run deficit into a commanding 9-3 victory over the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of their American League Division Series on Wednesday afternoon at Comerica Park.

The win, played before an announced crowd of 37,069 in a game that took 2 hours and 55 minutes, staved off elimination for the Tigers and narrowed the series deficit to two games to one in the best-of-five matchup. The series now shifts back to Seattle for a decisive Game 5 on Friday.

For the first four innings, the game followed a script favorable to the Mariners. Seattle methodically built a 3-0 lead, scoring single runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings. Josh Naylor sparked the second-inning rally with a double and came home on a Dominic Canzone single. In the fourth, Naylor singled and eventually scored on a Victor Robles double play groundout. An RBI single from Cal Raleigh in the fifth extended the lead, chasing Detroit starter Casey Mize.

Mize, however, had kept the Tigers within striking distance, allowing one run on two hits over three innings while striking out six. His effort was matched early by Seattle starter Bryce Miller, who held Detroit scoreless through four frames, scattering four hits.

The complexion of the game changed dramatically in the bottom of the fifth. With Miller still on the mound, the Tigers finally broke through. A double from Dillon Dingler drove in Zach McKinstry, putting Detroit on the board. Pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones followed with another run-scoring double, cutting the deficit to 3-2 and ending Miller’s afternoon.

Reliever Gabe Speier entered and was immediately met with a game-tying single from Javier Báez that scored Jones. The Tigers had erased the Mariners’ lead in a matter of minutes.

Detroit’s bullpen took over from there, silencing the Seattle bats. Troy Melton, who earned the win, was particularly dominant, firing three scoreless innings and allowing just two hits while striking out three. Will Vest and Luke Jackson combined for two perfect innings of relief to seal the victory.

The Tigers’ offense was far from finished. In the sixth inning, they unleashed a devastating blow. Riley Greene led off the frame with a solo home run to right-center field, giving Detroit its first lead of the afternoon at 4-3. The rally continued with a Spencer Torkelson double and an RBI single from McKinstry. Later in the inning, with a runner on, Báez delivered the knockout punch, launching a two-run homer to left field to cap a four-run inning and extend the lead to 7-3.

Detroit added insurance runs in the seventh on a solo home run by Gleyber Torres and in the eighth when Báez grounded into a force out that allowed another run to score.

Báez was the undeniable offensive star for Detroit, finishing the afternoon 2 for 4 with a home run, a single, and four RBIs. His two-run homer in the sixth broke the game open. Greene and Torres also provided crucial power with their solo shots.

The Tigers’ bullpen quartet of Kyle Finnegan, Melton, Vest, and Jackson collectively pitched six innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out ten Mariners batters.

The loss went to Speier, while Melton improved his season record to 4-3. The Mariners, who now hold a 92-74 overall record, managed eight hits but could not sustain their early momentum against Detroit’s relentless comeback and stout relief pitching. The Tigers improved to 91-78.

The result sets up a winner-take-all Game 5 in Seattle, with the Mariners still holding the series advantage but the Tigers carrying all the momentum from their decisive Game 4 victory.