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Bats Awake As Detroit Tigers Beat Minnesota Twins 10-7

By Matt St Jean

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Apr 29, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) and relief pitcher Joakim Soria (38) celebrate their win against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 10-7. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers took home the win Wednesday Afternoon in the season finale at the Minnesota Twins, 10-7. After not being able to find their bats Tuesday night in a loss to Mike Pelfrey, Wednesday’s contest was the exact opposite.

Lead by two massive Miguel Cabrera home runs and a strong outing from the bullpen, the Tigers fought there way back after being down early.

Shane Greene started the game for the Tigers, and looked promising early. Shane cruised into the fourth inning after striking out the side in the third, but control issues began to show. After hitting Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer drove him home on a double to deep left center. Two batters later, Oswaldo Arcia destroyed a 1-2 curveball to right field over the bleachers for a 416 two-run homer. The Twins lead 3-1.

The Tigers rallied back the next inning, getting to Twins ace Phil Hughes immediately. After a Yoenis Cespedes hustle double, Nick Castellanos got fortunate when what looked like an obvious strike 3 was called a ball. The following pitch he hit one to deep right center for the Tigers second run. The hit also broke up an 0-15 slump for Castellanos.

Catcher James McCann followed Castellanos and Cespedes with a double of his own, this time a liner down the right field line to tie the game at three.

Greene went back out for the fifth, however for the second consecutive start could not make it out of the inning. Mauer tacked on another run before Trevor Plouffe hit a three run home run to left center. That would be the final pitch thrown by Greene. In line for the loss, Greene’s final numbers were 4 1/3 IP, 9 H, 7 ER, 0 BB, 8 K’s on 85 pitches.

Phil Hughes was pulled after finishing the fifth inning, due to a mild left hip flexor strain. He ended the day with 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 4 K’s on 71 pitches.

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Reliever Tim Stauffer replaced Hughes to begin the 6th, and was immediately greeted by Miguel Cabrera’s 432 foot bomb into the upper deck in left center. Beginning a trend, JD Martinez homered two batters later to add another run. This was all capped off by catcher James McCann’s first career home run in the same inning. McCann’s home run was of the different variety, however, as his stayed in the park after hitting off the wall in center. McCann rounded all the bases for the Tigers first inside the park home run since Austin Jackson’s in 2012.

With the score tied at 7, the Tigers scored the go ahead run in the eighth on an Andrew Romine single to left. Romine is usually known as a defensive specialist, however today was 4-4 at the plate after not swinging the bat in about two weeks.

Cabrera wasnt finished making up for his hitless performance Tuesday night, either. He hit one more monster home run to straight center field in the ninth and finished the day going 3-5 with 2 HR’s, 4 RBI’s and 2 runs scored.

The Tigers bullpen did their jobs to perfection after coming in for Greene. Blaine Hardy, Angel Nesbitt and Tom Gorzelanny did not allow a run while giving up only four hits, allowing Joakim Soria to get his ninth save in as many opportunities. Gorzelanny was credited with his first win of the season.

The Tigers continue their road trip Thursday as they head to Kansas City to face the division leading Royals. Alfredo Simon looks to remain unbeaten as he faces Danny Duffy tomorrow night at 8:10 PM EST at Kaufmann Stadium. This is the first game of four at Kansas City, as the powerhouses of the AL Central look to gain ground on one another for another deep playoff run. 

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