Giants 5, Tigers 4: Bring a shovel

Daniel Norris dug his team a deep hole a third straight start, and despite seventh-inning dramatics the Tigers could not find their way out of it. The Giants took the second game of the set, 5-4, Wednesday at Comerica Park.

Norris lasted just four innings after giving up five runs on seven hits and four walks. It was the third game in a row he allowed five, as his ERA climbed to 5.29 for the year.

However, Warwick Saupold stopped the bleeding with three scoreless innings, setting up an exciting seventh. Detroit sent nine batters to the plate, working its way through four different Giants pitchers while scoring four runs.

Victor Martinez drove in two, adding a double later for a 2-for-4 day. Ian Kinsler added a run with an infield single, and Nicholas Castellanos finished the scoring with a sac fly. With bases loaded and two outs, Justin Upton had the opportunity to break the game open, but he struck out to end the rally. Upton finished 0-for-4 a day after playing the hero in the series opener.

Roars

Warwick Saupold — Came in relief of Norris, allowing just one hit across three innings to stop the bleeding.

Seventh inning — The Tigers sent nine batters to the plate and scored four to give themselves a fighting chance.

Nicholas Castellanos — Inning-ending double play in the ninth inning when he tagged the runner going to third and got the force out at first. Miguel Cabrera gets the assist.

Hisses

Daniel Norris — Lipstick on a pig from the tv broadcast aside, he gave up five runs and in four innings of work, and stuck the bullpen with a lot of innings.

Justin Upton — One day the hero, the next day 0-fer. Baseball. Feh!

Stats and stuff

• This is the sixth time in 16 starts this year that Daniel Norris gave up five runs. It was the second-shortest start of the year for Norris, the shortest being 3-2/3 innings on June 28.
• The Giants used four pitchers in the seventh inning.
• A day after leaving the game early with hip tightness, Miguel Cabrera went 2-for-4.