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 Hunter has four straight multi-hit games against the Twins and is
slashing at a .432 clip (16-for-37) in his last eight games against
Minnesota, the organization that drafted him in the first round in
1993 and where he was the face of the franchise for eight seasons.
"I just go out and play," Hunter said. "Even when I played for the
Twins, I just went out and played hard and gave it my all. That's
what I'm doing with the Tigers. Doesn't matter if it's the Twins or
whoever, I just try to put forth my best effort."
Hunter wasn't the only Tiger to have success at the plate Friday.
Every player in the Tigers' starting lineup had at least a hit, as
Detroit scored two runs in the second inning on a two-run homer by
third baseman Nick Castellanos then scored seven in a marathon
third. Eight straight Tigers reached in the frame, including Hunter,
who had two hits and an RBI in the inning. The Detroit offense
succeeded in their plan of attack against Twins starting pitcher
Kevin Correia, who entered the game with a career 2.75 ERA in six
starts against the Tigers.
"Usually, this guy pitches really well against us. We don't score
many runs off him," Hunter said. "Correia likes to throw that cutter
away and we just wanted to stay on the ball. Most of the righties,
keep your shoulder in there and stay on the ball because he's one of
those pitchers that will come inside just to show you. Stay on those
cutters away."
Left fielder Rajai Davis also had a three-hit night for the Tigers,
his second consecutive three-hit game. He knocked in two runs, stole
his eighth base of the season and lifted his average to .354.
Castellanos and first baseman Miguel Cabrera had two hits apiece.
Detroit made life difficult for Correia, who didn't last long. He
was lifted after 2 1/3 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned)
on eight hits and two walks. He dropped to 0-3 this season.
"I just wasn't able to hit any of my spots. I can't pitch like that
against a team like that or I'm going to get hit around," Correia
said. "It's one thing to get hit around, but I'm not going to walk
guys in and give you free bases. I just wasn't able to make pitches
when I needed to."
Detroit had nine runs on 11 hits by the end of the third inning and
opened up a 10-1 lead in the sixth on an RBI single by Cabrera.
"He just was not able to regroup and they kind of smothered him
there in the seven-run inning," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
"Normally, a big inning like that can eat you up early."
Minnesota did its best to chip away at the lead as five straight
Twins reached base to start the sixth inning. They scored four runs
to make it 10-5 and added another in the seventh to make it a
four-run game but could get no closer. Tigers righty Joba
Chamberlain worked out of a two-on, one out threat in the eighth
inning and righty Joe Nathan surrendered a single in the ninth but
coaxed a strikeout and a groundout to first to end the game.
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Left fielder Jason Kubel had three hits and an RBI to lead the
Twins' offensive attack. Catcher Kurt Suzuki knocked in two runs and
right fielder Chris Colabello made some history with an RBI single
in the sixth inning. Colabello has 27 RBIs, breaking Kirby Puckett's
20-year old franchise record of 26 RBIs in the month of April.
Rick Porcello pitched five-plus innings for the Tigers to improve to
3-1 this season. He allowed four runs, all earned, on six hits and a
walk while striking out four. Porcello cruised through five innings
but ran into trouble in the sixth, allowing three straight hitters
on before being removed from the game. He was hit on the right elbow
on a comebacker to the mound off the bat of Twins designated hitter
Josmil Pinto in the second inning, but stayed in the game.
"He said (the elbow) wasn't bothering him and he said he was fine
and he was just scuffling a bit," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
"He may not admit it, but I think that had an effect on him."
The Tigers will send righty Anibal Sanchez (0-2, 3.54 ERA) to the
mound Saturday against the Twins' Phil Hughes (1-1, 6.43).
NOTES: Twins OF Sam Fuld had a broken bat single to left field off
Tigers RHP Rick Porcello in his first home at-bat and followed with
another single in the fifth. He has three multi-hit games in three
games with the Twins. ... Tigers 3B Nick Castellanos had three RBIs
Friday. His 13 RBIs in April are the fourth most by a Tigers rookie
in franchise history and the most since Matt Nokes had 14 in 1987.
... The Tigers have won three of four and five of seven overall and
improved to 6-3 against the American League Central this season.
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