SEATTLE (AP) — Riley Greene homered and Javier Báez hit a two-run double in Detroit’s six-run first inning, helping the Tigers beat the Seattle Mariners 9-6 on Monday night for their first victory of the season.

Báez, Dillon Dingler and Trey Sweeney each had three of Detroit’s 18 hits. Kerry Carpenter had two hits and two RBIs.

The Tigers were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in their season-opening series.

Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh and Luke Raley homered for Seattle. Julio Rodríguez had two hits and scored two runs.

Mariners right-hander Emerson Hancock (0-1) recorded just two outs before he was pulled.

Carpenter singled in Justin-Henry Malloy, and Greene hit a solo drive for his first homer of the season. Dingler and Sweeney each hit an RBI single before Baez chased Hancock with his first double of the year.

Tigers rookie Jackson Jobe permitted three runs and three hits in four innings in his first career start. He struck out three and walked four.

Tyler Holton (1-0) got the win, and Brant Hurter pitched three innings for the save.

Key moment

Baez’s first-inning double broke the game wide open. Hancock was one strike away from getting out of the inning, but Baez’s hit went off the wall in left.

Key stat

Eight players had at least one hit for Detroit.

Up next

Tigers right-hander Casey Mize will start Tuesday against Seattle ace Logan Gilbert (0-0, 1.29 ERA).

— By SHANE LANTZ, Associated Press

DETROIT ― The writing is off the wall.

The large script “Tigers” signage that long has sat high atop the left-field scoreboard at Comerica Park has been taken down, and it’s set to be replaced by Opening Day with signage that bears the name of Detroit’s ballpark.

The Tigers confirmed the change Monday, saying the script “Tigers” signage, which could be illuminated with different colors but mostly was orange and black like Tigers stripes, “had reached its mechanical end of life.” Signage that reads “Comerica Park,” in white lettering with “Comerica” in bigger letters than “Park,” now will take over that prime real estate atop the scoreboard, between two light towers and two Tigers statues.

“Comerica Park” was spelled out on the scoreboard, above the videoboard and below “Tigers” signage (“Tigers” signage was first big, block letters, before being replaced by the script version), when the ballpark opened in 2000, and it was there through 2023. Before the 2024 season, the Tigers introduced a larger, state-of-the-art videoboard; the new screens, which take up more than 15,000 square feet, ended up monopolizing the space ― the border of the old, smaller videoboard ― where “Comerica Park” used to be spelled out.

“With the added branding and video capabilities that have been created by the new videoboard, the sign will revert to its original display of the ballpark’s name, as is customary throughout ballparks in Major League Baseball,” the Tigers said in a statement to The News on Monday.

In 1998, two years before the ballpark opened, Comerica Bank, founded in Detroit in the 1800s but now headquartered in Dallas, reportedly paid $66 million for 30 years of naming rights. The contract was reportedly extended in recent years, and runs through at least 2034. For naming rights, companies expect to meet a certain threshold of brand visibility. “Comerica Park” signage will be exposed to millions of eyeballs in 2025, in person and on TV broadcasts.

The Tigers have made numerous changes to Comerica Park in recent years, including the upgraded videoboard, as well as upgrades to the ballpark’s sound system and lighting. Out of view of fans, the Tigers also have upgraded the team plane, locker rooms, weight rooms and dining facilities.

This season, the Tigers are set to introduce new, uber-luxury box seats behind home plate, between the first- and third-base dugouts. The seats are wider, cushier and can be heated or cooled, they come with in-seat service, and are being sold starting with the home opener, Friday, April 4, even as the area remains under construction. The Home Plate Club, a private bar and dining area with private bathrooms for the ticket-holders of those luxury seats, is scheduled to open at some point during the 2025 season, and is being constructed under the stands. The Tigers haven’t publicly disclosed the cost of the new luxury seats, which will include parking and a private park entrance for ticket-holders.

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Detroit center fielder Parker Meadows is out indefinitely with a nerve issue in his throwing arm.

Manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday that there is no timetable for his return from the issue in his upper right arm. The Tigers haven’t yet ruled him out for Opening Day but for now he can’t do any baseball activities.

“My understanding is that we’re in a wait-and-see (situation),” Hinch told reporters. “We’ve got to get that nerve firing again for him to resume baseball activities. Could be short. Could linger a little bit. No one has a firm timetable on when that can be, but we feel like we’re on a really good path now that we have the diagnosis (and) we now have a treatment plan.”

Meadows was injured in Detroit’s spring training opener on February 22 on a throw from center field. It took some time to pinpoint what the problem was before the Tigers announced that he’d be out indefinitely.

The 25-year-old hit .244 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs in 82 games last season. He played well in the postseason, batting .269 with a hit in each of the team’s seven playoff games as the Tigers reached the American League Division Series.

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