Candelario's 9th-inning blast sends Tigers past Cards

[September 08, 2018]  Detroit Tigers a 5-3 victory over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.

Candelario's 18th homer of the season came off Jordan Hicks (3-4). Victor Reyes singled with one out prior to Candelario's opposite-field blast.

Candelario had three hits and scored twice. Nicholas Castellanos drove in two runs while Reyes supplied two hits and scored twice.

Shane Greene (3-6) pitched an inning of scoreless relief for the victory. Starter Daniel Norris gave up three runs on four hits in five innings with seven strikeouts.

Marcell Ozuna hit two solo homers for St. Louis. Cardinals starter Austin Gomber allowed three runs on six hits in six innings and struck out six.

Norris cruised through the first inning, throwing just 11 pitches. Leading off the second, Ozuna jumped on a Norris fastball and powered it into the left field stands.

Detroit's first two batters reached base, but Gomber wiggled out of that jam with the help of a double play. The Tigers tied the game in the second as Gomber's leadoff walk to Mikie Mahtook proved costly.

Ronny Rodriguez doubled one out later to put runners in scoring position. Dawel Lugo knocked in Mahtook on a groundout.

Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario (46) hits a single in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Ozuna got the best of Norris again in the fourth. This solo shot didn't go quite as far, barely clearing the left field wall, but it was enough to put the Cardinals on top 2-1.

The Cardinals caught a break in the fifth to extend their lead. Kolten Wong hit a liner to left that Mahtook apparently lost in the lights. Wong wound up on second base, then moved to third on a balk and scored on Francisco Pena's sacrifice fly.

A two-out rally allowed the Tigers to tie the game at 3-all in the fifth. Reyes reached on a bunt single to get it started. Detroit loaded the bases on Candelario's single and Niko Goodrum's walk. Castellanos then ripped a single to left, bringing in Reyes and Candelario.

--Field Level Media

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