Seattle, WA -- (Sports Network) - Marcus Thames' sacrifice fly off catcher- turned-pitcher Jamie Burke provided the winning margin as the Detroit Tigers won a 15-inning pitcher's duel over the Seattle Mariners, 2-1, to salvage a split in a four-game series at Safeco Field.

Five Seattle relievers combined on nine scoreless innings and kept the game tied into the 15th, but the M's relief corps was exhausted and Burke -- who entered the game as a catcher in the ninth inning -- was forced to come on in relief. He allowed a leadoff double to Miguel Cabrera, and pinch-runner Mike Hollimon advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring when Thames lofted a fly ball to left. But, Burke settled down to keep the deficit at 2-1.

"I don't want to think about the situation but if it comes up I'll give everything I can give out there to try to put a zero up," said Burke.

Todd Jones worked a scoreless bottom half to finish off the marathon and notch his 16th save.

Ryan Raburn homered for the Tigers, who snapped a two-game losing streak. Ivan Rodriguez had four of Detroit's eight hits, while Carlos Guillen -- the Tigers lone All-Star selection -- went 0-for-6.

"It was a long game, and it's grueling," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland. "I don't think people understand how tough it is on the guys to play a 15 inning game and have to go get on a plane and travel. This schedule is tough and I'm proud of the guys, of how they played today."

Aquilino Lopez (3-1) tossed a scoreless inning to earn the win in relief of Nate Robertson, who didn't factor in the decision despite a brilliant nine- inning performance, allowing a run on just four hits.

Yuniesky Betancourt's RBI double provided the scoring for the Mariners, who lost for just the third time in their last 10 games. Seattle's only All-Star, Ichiro Suzuki, went 1-for-6 with a walk.

Burke (0-1) took the loss after reliever Cesar Jimenez got the M's into the 15th with four hitless innings, backing up Ryan Rowland-Smith, who held Detroit to a run on five hits in his five-inning start.

Seattle pulled ahead in the third as Willie Bloomquist picked up a one-out infield single, then came around to score when Betancourt smashed a double to left. But, Betancourt was retired in a rundown between second and third and the Mariners weren't able to make anything more of the threat.

Rowland-Smith blanked the Tigers until the fifth, when Raburn tied the game with a leadoff homer to left.

Robertson settled down into the eighth, when Kenji Johjima reached on a two- base error with one out when second baseman Placido Polanco misfired on a throw to first. But, Robertson retired Bloomquist and Betancourt to send the game to the ninth tied 1-1.

Neither team pushed across a run in the ninth as the game headed to extra frames.

Game Notes

The M's had not used a position player on the mound since John Mabry on May 28, 2000...Detroit won despite stranding 14 runners on base and going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position...Seattle was 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on.