Higginson Has a Grand Night

Bobby Higginson hit a grand slam in the sixth inning off Seattle’s give-it-away bullpen, and the Detroit Tigers held on to defeat the Mariners, 7-6, Tuesday night.

Ken Griffey Jr., the American League leader in home runs at 42, was one for five with two runs batted in. He struck out in the eighth with runners on second and third and has only one homer in his last 63 at-bats.

Paul Spoljaric, Randy Johnson’s replacement in the Mariner rotation, left with a 3-2 lead--both runs he gave up scored on based-loaded walks.

Seattle’s bullpen then blew a save for the 20th time in 41 chances, and the Mariners gave up five or more runs in an inning for the fourth time in seven games.

Bobby Ayala (1-9), who has converted only eight of 16 save opportunities, gave up a double to Gabe Alvarez that tied the score, then loaded the bases. Greg McCarthy relieved and Higginson hit his fourth career slam, hitting a 2-and-0 pitch off the facing of the second deck in right field for a 7-3 lead.

Seth Greisinger (2-7) stopped his four-game losing streak, giving up five runs, nine hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Todd Jones got three outs for his 21st save.

Alex Rodriguez went five for five with two doubles, two RBIs and scored two runs for Seattle.

Detroit took a 2-0 lead in the first when Spoljaric walked four, including Juan Encarnacion and Alvarez with the bases loaded. The Mariners tied the score in the third on Rodriguez’s run-scoring single and Griffey’s RBI groundout.

Rodriguez and Griffey hit run-scoring singles in the sixth, and Edgar Martinez hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth off Matt Anderson.

Spoljaric, starting for the second time since Johnson was traded by the Mariners to Houston on July 31, pitched a career-high five innings, giving up two runs, four hits and four walks.