Tigers 6, Mariners 3: Victor Martinez slugged a tiebreaking three-run homer and Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run shot as visiting Detroit defeated Seattle in the opener of their three-game set.

Rajai Davis also homered and Justin Verlander pitched 7 2/3 strong innings for the Tigers. Verlander (6-4) was charged with three runs and five hits while striking out seven and Joba Chamberlain fanned two in the ninth for his second save.

Hisashi Iwakuma (3-2) allowed two of Detroit’s homers while giving up five runs and eight hits in six innings. Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer for the Mariners, who were without Robinson Cano for the second straight game due to illness and a hand injury.

The Mariners opted to walk Cabrera with two out and first base open in the fifth in order to face Martinez, who completed a 10-pitch at-bat with his blast into the right-field seats. Davis added a solo shot off Charlie Furbush on the first pitch of the seventh to increase Detroit’s lead to 6-2 before Seattle’s Michael Saunders drilled a run-scoring double in the eighth.

Torii Hunter singled with two outs in the third before Cabrera followed with his shot to left for a 2-0 lead. Justin Smoak coaxed a walk with one out in the fourth before Seager followed with his tying blast to right.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Chamberlain served as the closer to give Joe Nathan a breather after the right-hander pitched on three consecutive days and four of the previous five. … Seattle recalled OF Endy Chavez from Triple-A Tacoma and optioned RHP Brandon Maurer to the same club. … Davis (shoulder) was back in the lineup after missing Thursday’s game against Oakland.