Tigers 7, Padres 5: Detroit offense, bullpen combine to snap 8-game losing streak

The Detroit Tigers were down 3-0 and 5-3 at times, but came back for a 7-5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. The win snapped an eight-game losing streak for the Tigers, and was their first on their seven-game road trip.

The Tigers were in a hole early thanks to starter Jordan Zimmermann. He came into the game with a 2.70 ERA in June, but gave up a mammoth home run to Wil Myers in the bottom of the first. Former Tiger Erick Aybar tagged Zimmermann for a second solo shot in the next inning, and Matt Szczur added a run with an RBI triple later in the frame.

Detroit would not lie down, though. The Tigers offense started slow, but tied the game in the fourth on four separate hits. Justin Upton led off the inning with a double, then scored on an RBI triple from Mikie Mahtook. James McCann drove in Mahtook with a double, then scored their third run on a single from Jose Iglesias.

Unfortunately, that lead would not last long. Zimmermann coughed up a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, giving San Diego a 5-3 lead. Pitcher Clayton Richard was credited with an RBI on a safety squeeze that surprised the Tigers, and an RBI double from Jose Pirela scored another run. Nicholas Castellanos tied the game for the Tigers in the sixth with a two-run shot to right field.

The game looked destined for extra innings — fitting, right? — but the Tigers came through with a pair of runs in the ninth. Ian Kinsler led off the inning with a double, and Upton walked to put two runners on base. A J.D. Martinez groundout advanced them into scoring position, and Mahtook came through with arguably his biggest hit of the season, a single to score the two game-winning runs.

ROARS:

Mikie Mahtook: Between an RBI triple in the fourth and a go-ahead single in the ninth, Mahtook led the team in win probability added (WPA).

Justin Upton: He provided most of the Tigers’ offense early with a pair of doubles, but was stranded in scoring position in the first inning. He also made a nice sliding play in left field early in the game.

The bullpen: They were asked to do plenty of work after Zimmermann left early, but came through with five scoreless innings.

HISSES:

Jordan Zimmermann: The magic from his last few outings had seemingly run out on Sunday. Zimmermann gave up five runs, including a pair of solo homers, in just four innings.

STATS AND INFO:

• Miguel Cabrera batted second in this game. It was the first time he had done so since Games 4-6 of the 2013 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox.