Porcello combines with bullpen to help Tigers beat Mariners 3-2

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello readies a throw against the Seattle Mariners in the third inning Wednesday.

SEATTLE — Rick Porcello held the Seattle Mariners to one run and four hits while pitching into the seventh inning, and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 3-2 victory Wednesday.

Porcello (1-2) ran into trouble in the seventh, yielding his first walk of the game to Luis Rodriguez along with two wild pitches. Ryan Perry came in and struck out Jack Wilson to end the inning, and Joaquin Benoit worked a routine eighth.

Jose Valverde took over in the ninth and yielded a leadoff home run to Adam Kennedy, the first he had allowed in eight appearances. Michael Saunders hit a one-out double moments later, before Valverde struck out pinch-hitter Milton Bradley and Carlos Peguero for his fifth save.

Ryan Raburn hit a 408-foot homer to center field in the first inning off Erik Bedard (0-4), and Miguel Cabrera and Brennan Boesch also drove in runs for the Tigers.

Detroit has won six of its last nine games after a slow start to the season, while the Mariners lost for the sixth time in eight games.

After Raburn gave the Tigers an early lead, Cabrera drove in Austin Jackson in the third with a two-out single to make it 2-0. It was Cabrera’s 19th RBI in 27 games against the Tigers.

The Mariners got one back in the third on Ichiro Suzuki’s two-out single to right.

The Tigers added another two-out single in the fifth by Boesch, this time driving in Raburn and making it 3-1. Boesch is hitting .405 with nine RBIs in 12 road games.

Eric Bedard went just five innings, throwing 95 pitches, for his fourth straight loss. He walked five, two of which would score.

Notes: RHP Jeremy Bonderman visited the Tigers clubhouse before the game. The appearance of the 28-year-old free agent sparked speculation that he might be interested in returning to the Tigers. Bonderman lives in Kennewick, Wa. ... Mariners RHP David Aardsma, on the DL after hip surgery, had his first rehab assignment Tuesday. He threw 22 pitches, allowed two hits, including a two-run home run, and walked two. “I felt good, being on the mound, facing hitters and getting that anxiety out of the way,” said Aardsma, who will throw again Friday. ... Carlos Peguero, called up Tuesday to replace Justin Smoak on a bereavement leave, made his big league debut as a ninth-inning defensive replacement. He started in left field and was 0 for 4.