Detroit Tigers Squeak Out 2-1 Over Minnesota Twins

May 12, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates his solo homerun with third base coach Dave Clark (25) during the forth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers defeated the Minnesota Twins 2-1 in 10 innings on a crisp Tuesday night. Alfredo Simon and Kyle Gibson battled in a pitchers’ duel. After Gibson did not pitch out of the 4^th inning against the Tigers in the third game of the season, he went 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K. He was matched by Alfredo Simon who went 7.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K.

In the second and fifth innings, Simon got out of jams. Trevor Plouffe walked and Kurt Suzuki doubled to put runners on second and third with no one out. Simon then struck out Kennys Vargas, Eduardo Escobar, and Aaron Hicks to end the inning. In the fifth, Vargas cued a double up the left field line and was moved up on a ground ball, but Simon induced a weak fly ball and a ground out.

The Tigers’ offense was once again quiet. J.D. Martinez cut a home run through the wind into the right field seats to start the scoring in the bottom of the fourth.

The Twins got on the board in the top of the 8^th. Danny Santana tripled up the right-center gap to lead off the inning. Brian Dozier lined out to shallow right field, holding Santana at third. Torii Hunter then lined out to shallow center. Santana came home on the play and scored after Anthony Gose’s throw went up the first base line.

In the bottom of the 8^th, Jose Iglesias led off the inning with an infield single. The Tigers then gave away the first out of the inning with a bunt. Ian Kinsler then hit a broken bat ground ball to the pitcher. Miguel Cabrera was then intentionally walked before a ground out from Victor Martinez.

After Soria pitched a perfect 9^th and the Tigers could not score in the bottom half. Angel Nesbitt retired the Twins in order in the top half of the 10^th thanks to a bunt and a strike ‘em out, throw ‘em out.

In the bottom half of the 10^th, the Tigers did not repeat their Sunday night struggles and broke through to get the extra innings win. Anthony Gose hit a one out double to left center field and scored on a flare (Twins hit) single to center field to give the Tigers the 2-1 win.

The two teams will face off for the second game of their three game series on Wednesday night at 7:08 as Kyle Lobstein (3-2, 2.00 ERA) squares off with Ricky Nolasco (2-1, 9.00 ERA).