DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera left the batters box with a bit of a hop in his step while his drive to right field sailed over the wall. Nick Bjugstad Jersey . "A long time, I had not hit a home run," the slugger said. Cabreras solo shot in the sixth inning was his 44th of the year, but his first since Aug. 26. It was perhaps the most encouraging highlight for Detroit in a 6-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night that kept the Tigers six games ahead of second-place Cleveland in the AL Central. Detroits magic number to eliminate the Indians is six. Ahead 3-2, the Tigers 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. "We need everybody here on our ballclub," Cabrera said. "I think everybody here stepped up tonight and did their jobs. Its what we need to still win our games, what we need if we go to the playoffs." Anibal Sanchez struck out 10 in 6 1-3 innings, but the Mariners tied it at 2 against him in the seventh, forcing Detroits 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. The Mariners have dropped eight of nine. Cabrera has been bothered by a number of injuries that have affected his legs and midsection, so his opposite-field solo shot was a welcome sight for the Comerica Park crowd. It gave Detroit a 2-1 lead, but pinch-hitter Kendrys Morales tied it with an RBI double in the seventh. Alex Avila led off the bottom of the seventh with his first triple of the year, and after Jose Iglesias was hit by a pitch, Avila was caught in a rundown between third and home on Jacksons grounder. Avila stayed in the rundown long enough to enable Iglesias to go all the way from first to third, and Torii Hunters sacrifice fly put the Tigers ahead 3-2. They werent safe yet, though. With Benoit and Smyly unavailable, Coke walked two hitters, sandwiched around an error by Iglesias at shortstop. Alvarez came on with the bases loaded and got Mike Zunino to hit into a double play that kept the Tigers ahead. "Obviously, I was trying for a groundball," Alvarez said. "That was a good AB for the hitter -- a couple good pitches foul. ... If we dont make the play in that situation, it costs us the game maybe, but we make it and we take the win." Zunino drew two walks but couldnt come through in what was probably the biggest at-bat of the game. "I was just trying to battle and get the ball to the outfield," he said. "Im sure I saw every pitch he had, and I was keeping myself alive, but I just didnt do what I needed to do. A groundball was the worst thing in the world right there, and they turned two on me." Omar Infante added an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, and Austin Jacksons two-run single made it 6-2. Sanchez allowed six hits and two walks in 6 1-3 innings. His American League-leading ERA is now at 2.51. He threw 125 pitches. "Im not tired, more frustrated that I got the lead twice today and I dont keep the score," Sanchez said. "But at the end we win. Thats the most important thing." Don Kellys fourth-inning homer put Detroit ahead 1-0, but Raul Ibanez tied it in the sixth with his 28th homer of the year. Seattle starter Brandon Maurer pitched five-plus innings, allowing two runs and five hits. He walked two and struck out six. "I thought Maurer was much better today than hes been," Mariners manager Eric Wedge said. "Hes struggled lately, and he was pitching at this time of year against that team, but he didnt let any of that get to him. He kept his emotions in check and did a very nice job." NOTES: Detroit manager Jim Leyland said DH Victor Martinez will catch Thursdays game. ... Detroit RHP Justin Verlander (13-11) faces Seattle RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (12-6) on Wednesday night. Custom Florida Panthers Jerseys . One out away from finishing off an impressive shutout, they let a must-win game slip away. Aaron Ekblad Jersey . - Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery was so busy in free agency he didnt mind having a few extra weeks to prepare for the draft. http://www.nhlpanthersauthority.com/authentic-derek-mackenzie-panthers-jersey/ . - A mixed martial arts fighter who changed his name to War Machine was ordered Friday to stand trial in Nevada state court on 34 felony charges including attempted murder, sexual assault and kidnapping that could get him life in prison for allegedly attacking his porn star ex-girlfriend and her friend.With the second half of the season well underway and a two-and-a-half week Olympic break coming up, the NHLs Mar. 5 Trade Deadline isnt that far off and teams will be making decisions on whether to buy, sell and decide which players can make the biggest difference and hold the greatest value. Check out todays trade rumours and speculation from around the NHL beat. And follow TSN.ca through Deadline Day for all the updates. While the Windows Open After being extended by the Ottawa Senators through 2016, general manager Bryan Murray said he was ready to make moves to add the missing pieces for a Stanley Cup run. Speaking with TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LebBrun of ESPN.com, Murray said "I think we do have a good number of young people I would think other organizations would be interested in." Murray made it clear, however, that Curis Lazar - the teams 2013 first round draft pick - would not be traded by the team. The target for the Senators was narrowed down by Murray, "probably the one area that like a lot of teams we still need is another forward that has some impact, either in the scoring part of it or the physical part. Either/or, and I think that would address a need on our hockey team." Gateway to the Cup? Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal believes that the St. Louis Blues will try to upgrade their goaltending by the trade deadline and could target Buffalo Sabress goaltender Ryan Miller. Florida Panthers Gear. The Blues could offer goalie Jaroslav Halak and a prospect or young forward in exchange for Miller but will not trade winger Dmitrij Jaskin. Wheeling and Dealing Matheson also reports the Pittsburgh Penguins would like to acquire Winnipeg Jets winger Blake Wheeler to play with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz on the teams first line. The main obstacle, according to Matheson, is that the Jets are not interested in accepting draft picks in exchange for core players. The Penguins are reportedly willing to trade defenceman Simon Despres, their 2009 first round pick. Blue Line, Blue Chip Addition? According to Matheson, the Anaheim Ducks are looking to upgrade their defence and would like to add Dan Girardi of the New York Rangers. The Ducks are willing to move Luca Sbisa, Sheldon Souray and their two first round picks in 2014 (their own and the pick they acquired from Ottawa in the Bobby Ryan trade). Girardi is slated to become anunrestricted free-agent at the end of the season. Not Good Enough Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun reports Flames forwards Mike Cammalleri, Matt Stajan and Lee Stepniak are negatively impacting their trade value with their recent poor play. All three forwards have been linked to trade talk and will be unrestricted free-agents at the end of this season. Cheap Soccer Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Hockey Jerseys Nike NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys China Wholesale Baseball Jerseys China Wholesale College Jerseys Cheap Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys Near Me Cheap Jerseys Online Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic MLB Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Throwback Jerseys Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China ' ' '