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For six innings, the Tigers couldn't break through against Phil Hughes, as the Twins made defensive gem after defensive gem to rob the offense. In the seventh inning, a bit of baseball justice finally prevailed. The Tigers batted around en route to scoring seven runs and went on to win, 7-2.
It started with a stand-up triple by Miguel Cabrera, which, if you think about it is like seeing a unicorn, so good things were bound to follow. They did. Victor Martinez got him home and ended Hughes' day, then Nick Castellanos, Justin Upton (ground-rule double!) and Cameron Maybin all collected hits off Twins reliever Michael Tonkin.
Another pitching change didn't help matters for Minnesota, as Jose Iglesias greeted Trevor May with a single to break the tie and give Detroit a 4-2 lead. Back to back home runs by Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez killed the rally gave the Tigers a 7-2 lead before the inning finally ended on another Victor Martinez flyout.
On the pitching side of the ledger, Mike Pelfrey allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk, but failed to make it out of the sixth inning. Still, you could call this his second-best start of the season. Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano both hit solo shots for Minnesota.
Kyle Ryan bridged the game well for the Tigers, going 1-2/3 innings without allowing a baserunner. Mark Lowe gave up a pair of walks before escaping the eighth, and Justin Wilson closed out the ninth for the Tigers' third straight win.
ROARS:
EVERYONE: But especially Ian Kinsler, J.D. Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, Cameron Maybin, Jose Iglesias, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton and Nick Castellanos.
OH: And Mike Pelfrey, Kyle Ryan, Mark Lowe, and Justin Wilson too.
And Gene Lamont. Special guest manager while Brad Ausmus cooled his heels for a game after disrobing at home plate Monday.
HISSES:
NO ONE!
STREAKS AND STATS:
- Ian Kinsler's seventh-inning home run was his team-leading ninth of the year. Nick Castellanos has eight.
- J.D. Martinez also has eight home runs after a seventh-inning solo shot.
- Cameron Maybin has two stolen bases in two games, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the Tigers' stolen bases of the season (11) already.
WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:
Source: FanGraphs