Live Tigers blog: Detroit wins 7-5
A seven-run outburst in the fifth inning ignited the Tigers in a 7-5 win against Miami on Tuesday at Comerica Park to snap a three-game skid.
The Tigers had no business being in the game entering the bottom of the fifth, considering their multiple strikeouts and three errors as they trailed by three runs.
But baseball showed its beauty as the entire complexion of the game changed in one inning. Here it was: Five hits. Two walks. Three home runs. Seven runs. And a strikeout-throwing pitcher walked back to the dugout in disbelief.
Jose Iglesias connected for a two-run homer and Miguel Cabrera followed with a three-run blast to chase Marlins starter Adam Conley (4-5), who had nine strikeouts and allowed two hits through 4 1/3 innings.
Cabrera has now homered against every team in the majors. He's one of 50 players in MLB history to accomplish the feat.
Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey (2-7) earned the win, despite giving up 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
In the fifth, Marlins reliever Nick Wittgren entered the game and was greeted by Nick Castellanos, who belted a two-run homer.
Top 9: K-Rod enters, gets save
Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez entered the game in the top of the ninth with a 7-5 lead.
Derek Dietrich (2-for-4) drew a two-out walk.
J.T. Realmuto flied out to left field to end the game.
Rodriguez started the inning with two outs: Giancarlo Stanton popped out (although it nearly evaded Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera), and Justin Bour struck out.
Bot 8: McGowan gets 1-2-3 inning
Marlins reliever Dustin McGowan earned a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth. He retired James McCann (0-4), Mike Aviles (0-3) and Jose Iglesias.
Top 8: Greene gives up sacrifice fly
Tigers reliever Shane Greene entered the game in the eighth and gave up a run.
It's 7-5 Tigers after the top of the eighth.
The Marlins’ Adeiny Hechavarria (3-for-4) and Ichiro Suzuki (2-for-4) hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. Martin Prado hit a sacrifice fly RBI.
Christian Yelich flied out to the left-field warning track, providing a mild scare for Tigers fans who have seen leads coughed away throughout the year. It would have tied the game if it left the park.
Bot 7: Castellanos needs double for cycle
Nick Castellanos (3-for-4, two RBIs) is a double away from the cycle. He has a two-run homer, triple and single tonight.
It's 7-4 Tigers after seven innings.
In the seventh, Victor Martinez delivered a two-out single through the shift, and Castellanos followed with an infield single off Marlins reliever Brian Ellington (0.90 ERA).
But Justin Upton lined out to third baseman Martin Prado to end the inning.
Ellington has reached 99 mph on the radar gun through two scoreless innings. He started the seventh by retiring Cameron Maybin (ground out) and Miguel Cabrera (line out).
Top 7: Wilson, Rondon throw scoreless inning
Justin Wilson and Bruce Rondon combined for a scoreless inning to preserve the Tigers' 7-4 lead through the top of the seventh.
Rondon struck out Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton with an 87-mph slider to start the inning, the first time Stanton (3-for-4, two-run HR, three RBIs) has been retired tonight.
From there, Rondon was pulled by Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. Left-hander Justin Wilson came in to face left-handed hitting Justin Bour and induced a ground out.
The Marlins' Derek Dietrich hit a two-out infield single, but J.T. Realmuto grounded out.
Wilson has allowed two earned runs in his past 13.0 innings.
Bot 6: Ellington gets 1-2-3 inning
Marlins reliever Brian Ellington entered the game and earned a 1-2-3 inning. But the damage was inflicted earlier when the Tigers belted three homers in the fifth.
It's 7-4 Tigers after six innings.
Top 6: Pelfrey pulled, Ichiro inches toward 3,000 hits
The Marlins' Christian Yelich delivered an RBI single off Tigers reliever Bruce Rondon to trim the Tigers lead to 7-4 after the top of the sixth.
The run was charged to Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey, who gave up 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He was pulled after issuing back-to-back singles to Adeiny Hechavarria and Ichiro Suzuki.
Suzuki, who is 42-years-old, is 15 hits away from the 3,000-hit milestone. He’s two hits away from tying Washington Senators legend Sam Rice (1915-1933) for 30th place on the all-time MLB hit list (2,987).
Suzuki recorded 1,278 hits during his days in Japan, and now has a total of 4,263 professional hits. That would be good enough to pass Pete Rose on the all-time MLB list (4,256).
Bot 5: Detroit belts three homers in seven-run outburst
The Tigers had no business being in the game entering the bottom of the fifth, considering their multiple strikeouts and three errors.
But here's the beauty of baseball: The entire complexion of a game can change in one inning.
Five hits. Two walks. Three home runs. Seven runs. And a strikeout-throwing pitcher walked back to the dugout in disbelief.
The Tigers lead 7-3 after the fifth inning. What a change of events.
Here's why: Marlins left-hander Adam Conley tied a career-high strikeout total (nine tonight) when he fanned James McCann (86 mph slider) to start the fifth inning. He had given up two hits at that point.
And suddenly, the Tigers awoke.
Jose Iglesias connected for a two-run homer on Conley's four-seam fastball that had eluded the Tigers most of the night (it delivered five strikeouts).
Ian Kinsler followed with a double, Cameron Maybin walked and Miguel Cabrera came to the plate with two runners on base and one out.
Cabrera — who struck out earlier with two runners on base — this time blasted a three-run homer to chase Conley.
And it wasn't done there: Marlins reliever Nick Wittgren entered the game and was greeted by Nick Castellanos, who belted a two-run homer for a 7-3 lead.
Cabrera has now homered against every team in the majors. He's one of 50 players in MLB history to accomplish the feat.
Cabrera hammered Conley's change-up deep to left field to ignite the Comerica Park crowd.
Top 5: Error, Stanton's RBI increase deficit
Three errors. Ten hits allowed by Mike Pelfrey.
And remember the Tigers bats have fanned eight times, already.
It’s mildly surprising it’s only 3-0 Marlins after the top of the fifth inning, given the poor all-around performance by the home team at Comerica Park.
In the fifth inning, the Marlins’ Christian Yelich doubled to left field — and went to third base on an error by Tigers left fielder Justin Upton, who has made two poor plays tonight. Yelich scored on Giancarlo Stanton’s RBI single.
Stanton (3-for-3, two-run HR, 3 RBIs) advanced to second on an error by Tigers right-fielder Mike Aviles and went to third on a groundout by Justin Bour.
Pelfrey, however, struck out Derek Dietrich to end the threat.
Pelfrey has thrown 90 pitches.
Bot 4: Warning-track power
Well, there wasn’t a strikeout at least. That’s the best thing to come out of the fourth inning as the Tigers failed to score against Marlins left-handed starter Adam Conley.
Victor Martinez and Nick Castellanos both flied out to the warning track. Justin Upton battled in an 11-pitch at-bat — but popped out.
Conley fanned eight Tigers through three innings. His career-high is nine strikeouts, which he achieved twice, most recently at the beginning of this month vs. Pittsburgh.
Top 4: Iglesias' standout play saves run
Again, Mike Pelfrey ran into trouble with two outs. If it wasn’t for a tremendous play by Jose Iglesias, another run may have scored.
The Marlins' Adeiny Hechavarria singled and Ichiro Suzuki walked, but the inning ended when Iglesias snagged a sharply-hit grounder and threw out the Marlins’ Martin Prado at first base.
It’s 2-0 Marlins after the top of the fourth.
Pelfrey has given up eight hits through four innings. He’s thrown 70 pitches with no strikeouts.
Bot 3: Miggy cannot deliver, Conley 8 K's
Miguel Cabrera came to the plate with runners on second and third with two outs — and struck out, following a game-long trend.
It’s 2-0 Marlins after three innings.
Marlins left-handed starter Adam Conley is inching toward a career-high strikeout total.
Conley has eight strikeouts through three innings. His career-high is nine, which he achieved twice, most recently at the beginning of this month vs. Pittsburgh.
Cabrera is hitting .260 with runners in scoring position this season (19-for-73).
In the third inning, Jose Iglesias drew a one-out walk and Cameron Maybin singled to advance Iglesias to third base. Maybin went to second on a poor throw.
Conley has five strikeouts with his four-seam fastball — the latest victim being Ian Kinsler, who stared at strike three.
Three strikeouts have been via the slider — as Cabrera learned in his inning-ending whiff.
Cabrera is hitting .161 with two outs and runners in scoring position this season (5-for-31). It’s far below his career average of .311 in those situations.
Top 3: Pelfrey allows 7 hits in 3 IP
Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey induced back-to-back groundouts from Martin Prado and Christian Yelich to start the third inning. Trouble followed from there — but Pelfrey escaped without giving up a run.
It’s 2-0 Marlins after the top of the third.
Marcell Ozuna (2-for-2) and Giancarlo Stanton (2-for-2, two-run HR) hit consecutive two-out singles. On Stanton's hit, a poor read and throw by Tigers left fielder Justin Upton allowed Ozuna to wheel to third base on the play, while Stanton advanced to second.
Justin Bour, however, popped out to end the inning.
Stanton is 11-for-21 in his career against Pelfrey.
Bot 2: Conley 6 K's already
Marlins left-handed starter Adam Conley has six strikeouts through two innings — and stranded a runner at third in the process.
It’s 2-0 Marlins at Comerica Park.
Tigers’ third baseman Nick Castellanos tripled to right-center field with one out in the second inning, but Conley struck out Justin Upton (86 mph slider) and James McCann (four seam fastball) to end the threat.
Conley, who entered today with back-to-back wins, has used his four-seamer on four of his strikeouts today — including Victor Martinez to start the second inning.
Conley gave up five hits in the past 13.2 innings entering tonight.
Top 2: Stanton belts 2-run HR
Mike Pelfrey has been knocked for runs — and the damage could have been much worse.
It's 2-0 Marlins after the top of the second inning.
Pelfrey gave up five straight hits to start the inning, highlighted by Giancarlo Stanton's two-run homer to straight-away center field to give the Marlins a 2-0 lead.
From there, the Marlins’ Justin Bour (.274) and Derek Dietrich (.305) followed with back-to-back singles. Then J.T. Realmuto (.305) hit a chopper to second base —and beat Pelfrey to the first base bag for an infield single. That loaded the bases. It looked like the Marlins would open a sizable lead.
But Marlins' No. 9 hitter Adeiny Hechavarria grounded into a 3-2-3 double play: Miguel Cabrera threw home to catcher James McCann, who threw back to Cabrera for the second out.
Ichiro Suzuki grounded out to end the inning.
Bot 1: Conley strikes out three
Marlins’ left-handed starter Adam Conley struck out the side in the opening inning.
Conley used his 88-mph slider to fan Ian Kinsler swinging, then used his four-seam fastball to Cameron Maybin and Miguel Cabrera, who both stared at strike three.
Top 1: Pelfrey throws scoreless inning
Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey ended the opening inning without yielding a run — a rarity considering his 7.71 first-inning ERA this season.
Ichiro Suzuki bought his signature swing to the Comerica Park batter’s box — but popped out.
Suzuki, who is 42-years-old, is 16 hits away from the 3,000-hit milestone. He’s three hits away from tying Washington Senators legend Sam Rice (1915-1933) for 30th place on the all-time MLB hit list (2,987).
Here's how the rest of the inning unfolded: The Marlins’ Martin Prado reached on an error by Tigers first baseman Nick Castellanos. Pelfrey, however, induced an inning-ending double play ball from Christian Yelich.
The Tigers have turned 81 double plays this season, second best in the majors (Texas, 100).
Pelfrey takes mound
Mike Pelfrey's first inning ERA? Cover your eyes ... it's 7.71, and opponents are batting .435.
Pelfrey, who is 1-7 this year, will face Ichiro Suzuki, Martin Prado and Christian Yelich in the first inning.
How to watch: Tigers vs. Marlins
The Tigers (38-38, tied for third place in the AL Central, 7 1/2 games behind the Indians) will continue a nine-game homestand tonight against the Marlins (41-35, second place in the NL East, 3 1/2 games behind the Nationals).
After winning the first four games against Seattle, Detroit lost three straight to Cleveland. They will wrap up the homestand tomorrow (1:10 p.m.) before facing the Rays in Tampa Thursday (7:10 p.m.).
Mike Pelfrey will start for the Tigers tonight. He made a rare relief appearance Friday against the Indians and allowed three hits over 4 1/3 shutout innings. In his last start, he gave up 12 hits in five innings against Seattle.
Lefty Adam Conley will pitch for the Marlins in the interleague matchup. He's 4-4 this year and is 1-2 with a 3.73 ERA in his last seven starts.
Tigers lineup
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Cameron Maybin, CF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B
6. Justin Upton, LF
7. James McCann, C
8. Mike Aviles, RF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
Mike Pelfrey
Marlins lineup
1. Ichiro Suzuki, RF
2. Martin Prado, 3B
3. Christian Yelich, LF
4. Marcell Ozuna, CF
5. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
6. Justin Bour, 1B
7. Derek Dietrich, 2B
8. J.T. Realmuto, C
9. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
Adam Conley
TIGERS VS. MARLINS
What: First of a two-game series
When: Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
Pitching matchup: RH Mike Pelfrey (1-7, 4.91) vs. LH Adam Conley (4-4, 3.56)
Forecast: Mostly cloudy, 69 degrees
Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit
National TV: None
Internet streaming: MLB.TV (Blacked out in Detroit market)
Local radio: 97.1 FM
Satellite radio: Sirius, SIRI 212; XM, 181; SiriusXM, 181 (Internet 849)