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The Detroit Tigers continued their red-hot start this afternoon, battering a beleaguered Cleveland Indians pitching staff for eight runs on 11 hits en route to an 8-5 victory. The win was the Tigers' sixth straight to open the season, their best start since 1985.
Miguel Cabrera had four hits on the day, including a pair of monster home runs to left field. Cabrera also hit a double to the deepest part of center field, a hit that may have been a home run in the summer months. Cabrera reached base five times on the day, was a triple shy of the cycle, and had 11 hits in the three-game series against the Indians.
J.D. Martinez added three hits of his own today, including a solo home run in the ninth inning. The homer gave J.D. three long balls on the season, one more than Cabrera for the team lead. Martinez also added a single in the first and a two-run single off of Indians starter T.J. House in the second inning.
Nick Castellanos had just one hit in five at-bats today, but the hit was a double to deep left field. Castellanos made an ill-advised attempt to advance to third base on a ball that bounced away from catcher Roberto Perez, but made up for his gaffe with a pair of nice defensive plays in the second inning. The second, a diving stop on a sharp grounder from Indians shortstop Mike Aviles, saved a run and ended the inning.
Rajai Davis was a catalyst at the top of the Tigers' lineup, reaching base the first three times he stepped to the plate. He scored runs in the first and second inning, including one where his attempted steal of third base drew a wild throw from Indians catcher Roberto Perez. Davis scampered home to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. He also made a nice defensive play in center field, sticking with a deep fly ball from Perez in the eighth inning to make a catch on the warning track.
Game 5 Player of the Game
Ian Kinsler held off Andrew Romine in the closest Player of the Game poll so far this season, taking home the prize with 54 percent of the vote. Kinsler had four hits and two RBI, including an RBI single that put the Tigers ahead 6-5 in the ninth inning.