He was everything Mariners fans might remember when he was here – fast, efficient - only better.
The trade now seems absurd. Fister was sent to Detroit along with reliever David Pauley in exchange for pitchers Charlie Furbush and Chance Ruffin, outfielder Casper Wells and then-third base prospect Francisco Martinez.
Of what the Mariners received in return – only Furbush is contributing to the major league club. Wells was designated for assignment after failing to make the team. Ruffin – once thought to be a future closer - is trying to re-invent himself as a starter in Double A. Martinez is his center fielder in Jackson after being converted to the outfield and never hitting as expected.
And Fister? He was 3-12 with a 3.33 earned run average when he was traded in 2011. Down the stretch for the Tigers that season, he went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 10 starts and one relief appearance, helping them reach the playoffs.
Last season, he posted a 10-10 record with a 3.45 ERA and helped the Tigers reach the World Series.
After Tuesday night, Fister improved to 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in three starts.
Fister was perfect through three innings and cruising. But Kyle Seager’s one-out double over the head of Austin Jackson in center field in the fourth inning broke up the perfect game. Kendrys Morales ended the shutout moments later, doubling to right-center. Michael Morse, back in the line-up after missing the last three games, plated Morales with a single up the middle. The Mariners had a 2-1 lead against Fister and were looking to get more.
But Fister didn’t allow it. He got Raul Ibanez to pop out to shortstop, walked Justin Smoak and then got Kelly Shoppach to ground out.
That was the Mariners one and only chance against Fister. He retired the nine of the next 10 hitters he faced.
Meanwhile, his teammates – Cabrera specifically – made sure he was in line for the win. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player put the Tigers up for good in the fifth inning. He reached out and drove a 2-2 fastball over the wall in right-center field for a two-run homer off Mariners starter Aaron Harang, who was making his 2013 debut.
Harang worked five innings, giving up the three runs on seven with a walk and five strikeouts. He threw 95 pitches was about the limit considering he hadn’t pitched in a game since spring training.
The Mariners bullpen couldn’t keep the game close.
Blake Beavan gave up an RBI single to Cabrera in the seventh, while Bobby LaFromboise and Yoervis Medina each walked in batters in the eighth inning to stretch the lead. The Mariners simply weren’t going to come back against that deficit.