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 Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez clubbed back-to-back homers during a
seven-run, seventh-inning outburst and the Tigers won their third
straight by overpowering the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Tuesday at
Comerica Park.
The upswing came after the team had lost 11 of their last 12,
putting manager Brad Ausmus on the hot seat.
"We felt like it was coming," Tigers left fielder Justin Upton said.
"We've been grinding for the last month-and-a-half and we're just
starting to see results."
Detroit's bats have awoken following a long slumber. The Tigers got
a pair of late home runs to rally past Baltimore on Sunday and got
two more long balls after squandering an eight-run lead on Monday.
They didn't get anything going for the first six innings Tuesday
against Minnesota starter Phil Hughes, then erupted against him and
two relievers.
It also woke up a previously reticent home crowd.
 "We want it loud. We want it to be chaotic and we want it to be a
tough place to play," Kinsler said. "They got loud tonight in the
seventh and we responded. Anytime the crowd can bring energy, it
always helps."
Detroit also had a different voice running the show for an evening.
Ausmus served a one-game suspension for his antics after he was
ejected during Monday's series opener. Ausmus took off his
sweatshirt and placed it on home plate before leaving the field.
Bench coach Gene Lamont filled in for Ausmus.
The two-run shot by Kinsler, the Tigers' leadoff hitter, gave him a
team-high nine homers. Martinez, who had two hits, hit his eighth of
the season.
Jose Iglesias contributed a two-run single and Miguel Cabrera had
two hits, including a leadoff triple, during the Tigers' big inning.
"It's a lighter atmosphere in the dugout," said Detroit third
baseman Nick Castellanos, who singled and scored. "We're having more
fun."
Kyle Ryan (1-1) pitched 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the
win. Starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey gave up two runs on seven hits in
5 1/3 innings.
Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano homered for the Twins, who have lost 14 of
their last 17 games.
Minnesota was 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
"Offensively, we missed some opportunities," manager Paul Molitor
said. "We didn't move runners, we didn't get them in. We had chances
to add a couple more runs early and our at-bats weren't particularly
good."
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Hughes, who had given up 15 earned runs over 11 innings in his
previous three starts, allowed one run on three hits in 6 1/3
innings in his best outing this season. He got the quick hook
because of shoulder fatigue.
"He agreed that was the right thing," Molitor said. "We were just
been a little conservative as far as making a change and they just
started hitting balls all over the field. It happened fast and all
of a sudden they had seven."
Losing pitcher Michael Tonkin (1-2) surrendered three runs in
one-third of an inning.
Sano led off the sixth with his seventh homer to make it 2-0.
Hughes retired 13 consecutive batters before Cabrera's triple to
deep right center, which center fielder Danny Santana nearly tracked
down. Victor Martinez followed with a sacrifice fly and Molitor
replaced Hughes with Tonkin. He was touched for three consecutive
hits, capped by Cameron Maybin's run-scoring single.
With two out, Iglesias greeted Trevor May with a two-run single.
Kinsler and J.D. Martinez followed with their back-to-back homers.
NOTES: The Twins optioned RHP Jose Berrios to Triple-A Rochester on
Tuesday and recalled LHP Taylor Rogers from the same club. The
21-year-old Berrios, who failed to get out of the first inning on
Monday in Detroit, had a 1-1 record and 10.20 ERA in four starts.
"Jose's had a tough time," manager Paul Molitor said. "What we've
seen up here in his starts wasn't as good as what he was showing
down there in Triple A." ... LHP Pat Dean will make his first major
league start on Saturday against Toronto, Molitor announced. Dean
pitched 5 1/3 innings of relief against Detroit on Monday and took
the loss, allowing two runs on 10 hits. ... Detroit RHP Justin
Verlander, who is scheduled to oppose RHP Ricky Nolasco in the
finale of the three-game series on Wednesday, needs seven strikeouts
to reach 2,000 for his career. ... Tigers RHP Francisco Rodriguez
has converted his last 10 save opportunities, including Sunday and
Monday.
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