Detroit Tigers beat Twins 12-9, Sanchez deals, bullpen struggles

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers sent Anibal Sanchez(W, 3-2, 2.44 ) to the mound against the Twins this afternoon and made an impressive statement both on the mound and in the batters box, with a 12-9 victory, though the bullpen tried several times to give the game away in the later innings.

Sanchez pitched a one-two-three first inning, but got into a little trouble in the second, giving up a walk and a hit which resulted in a run by way of the sacrifice fly. After the run scored in the second, Sanchez zoned in and was every bit as good as expected, not allowing another base runner until Eric Fryer had an infield single in the fifth inning with two outs. Fryer was stranded when Eduardo Escobar grounded out.

Sanchez started off the seventh inning and issued a walk to Kendrys Morales, then struck out Oswaldo Arcia before allowing an RBI triple to Eduardo Nunez, which ended Sanchez’s outing. His final line: 6.1IP, 4H, 3R/ER, 2BB, 6K.

Evan Reed relieved Sanchez with one out in the seventh and allowed his inherited runner score on a single to right field by Eric Fryer that Torii Hunter botched badly, allowing Fryer to advance to third. Reed then got Danny Santana to ground into a force out, eliminating the lead runner, with Fryer scoring on the play. Reed then gave up a single to Sam Fuld and was removed from the game for Phil Coke. Coke got the final out of the inning, a Joe Mauer fly out.

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Coke remained in the game for the eighth inning and gave up a single to Chris Parmelee, then retired the next two hitters. Coke then gave up an infield single that was initially ruled an out but overturned on review, then yet another single to score another run. At this point Al Alburquerque relieved Coke, gave up a single on a poorly played ball by Hunter, then another single to right and a walk to Sam Fuld. Alburquerque was replaced at this point with Ian Krol, leaving the bases loaded. Krol retired Joe Mauer to end the Twins big inning.

Krol was back out for the ninth, walked Chris Parmelee then retired Morales and Arcia before giving up a two run homer to Brian Dozier to cut the one time 10 run lead to three. Krol retired the next batter to end the game and seal the victory.

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Tigers bats started early, putting runners on the corners with two outs in the first inning after Torii Hunter doubled and Victor Martinez had an infield single, but were once again unable to score. Eugenio Suarez led off the scoring in the third inning with a no doubt, solo home run to left center which was the spark that ignited a seven run inning in which the Tigers batted around. During the big inning, Ian Kinsler and Alex Avila walked, Miguel Cabrera and Nick Castellanos singled, Hunter and Suarez(in his second AB of the inning) doubled and Victor Martinez hit a two run home run.

The Tigers added a run when Miguel Cabrera doubled to lead off the fourth inning, was moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Victor Martinez and scored on a J.D. Martinez single. Avila scored the ninth run of the game for the Tigers in the fifth inning, taking a walk and then scoring from second after Suarez walked and Kinsler doubled. Suarez then scored on a sacrifice by Hunter.

In the sixth inning, J.D. Martinez doubled to lead off and scored on a Castellanos single to give the Tigers their 11th run.

Suarez led off the seventh with his third hit of the game, a triple and scored when Kinsler singled to left. Victor Martinez also had his third hit of the game, another double that was thisclose to being a home run. At the end of the inning, both Victor Martinez and Eugenio Suarez were a hit shy of hitting for the cycle, Martinez a triple and Suarez a single.

Suarez had one more chance at the cycle, but hit into a fielder’s choice in his final at bat of the game.

The Tigers finish their series with the Twins tomorrow afternoon at 1:08pm at Comerica Park

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