Miguel Cabrera homered, Austin Jackson hit a two-run single and the Detroit Tigers held on despite a short-handed bullpen, beating the Seattle Mariners 6-2 on Tuesday night.

The AL Central-leading Tigers were ahead 3-2 when they escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth while playing without closer Joaquin Benoit and left-handed reliever Drew Smyly. They were both given the night off.

Anibal Sanchez struck out 10 in 6 1-3 innings, but the Mariners tied it at 2 against him in the seventh, forcing Detroit's relievers into action.

Al Alburquerque (3-3) got out of the seventh, and Phil Coke and Jose Alvarez made it through a dodgy eighth. Alvarez got two outs in the ninth, and Jose Veras finished.

Yoervis Medina (4-6) took the loss.

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