SPORTS

Live Tigers blog: Tigers beat Twins, 9-4

Al Willman
The Detroit News
Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, right, jogs past Minnesota Twins first baseman Trevor Plouffe on a solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Tyler Duffey in the first inning.

Miguel Cabrera’s four-hit game, as well as a five-run third inning and three-run seventh powered the Tigers past the Twins, 9-4 in the second of a three-game series at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Cabrera (single, two doubles, home run) finished a triple shy of the cycle. Justin Upton (2-for-5) hit a three-run home run in the Tigers’ five-run third.

Matt Boyd started for the Tigers (67-59) and had a strong performance on the mound. He went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out seven (tying a career high) and walking one.

Boyd last struck out seven on July 18, a 1-0 win over the Twins at Comerica Park.

Brian Dozier and Robbie Grossman each hit home runs for the Twins (49-77).

The two teams wrap up the series tomorrow at 1:10. Daniel Norris (1-2, 3.81) goes for the Tigers while Jose Berrios (2-3, 9.28) will pitch for the Twins.

Cabrera 'settles' for double, 4th hit

Miguel Cabrera — who entered the ninth inning a triple shy of the cycle — doubled off the wall in right field, and moved to third on a ground out from Victor Martinez — his fourth hit of the game. Cabrera could not score on a J.D. Martinez grounder to shortstop, and was stranded on a grounder from Justin Upton to third base to end the inning. Going to the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers lead 9-4.

Greene gives up run, Tigers lead 9-4

Right-hander Shane Greene took the mound for the Tigers to start the bottom of the eighth inning, and gave up a run. He walked his first batter, Brian Dozier. Greene then got Robbie Grossman to ground into a fielder’s choice, to retire Dozier — then legging out the throw back to first. Miguel Sano followed with a single — snapping a streak in which he was hitless in his last 24 at-bats. Trevor Plouffe then singled in Grossman. The next batter, Jorge Polanco grounded into a fielder’s choice — which was very nearly another double play. Eduardo Escobar grounded out on a softly-hit ground ball, and the Tigers are up 9-4 going to the ninth inning.

Miguel Cabrera (3-for-4, single, double, home run) will lead off the ninth inning, a triple shy of the cycle.

Tigers pad lead, go up 9-3 in 8th

The Tigers padded their lead in the top of the eighth inning.

J.D. Martinez singled to start the inning before Justin Upton strike out on a slider well outside the strike zone. Casey McGehee singled through the hole between shortstop and third base, putting two on with one out. Martinez and McGehee advanced on a wild pitch that appeared for a second to have hit the batter, Jarrod Saltalamacchia — who struck out to complete the at-bat. Andrew Romine followed with a two-run single, advancing all the way to third on a bad throw home from Twins right fielder Max Kepler. The next batter, Cameron Maybin, singled in Romine. Going to the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers lead 9-3.

Tigers turn to bullpen in 7th

Tigers left-hander Justin Wilson came on to start the seventh inning, replacing starter Matt Boyd. Wilson got Eduardo Escobar to ground out, before walking Max Kepler. Wilson then got Kurt Suzuki to hit a pop fly to center field for the second out, and then struck out Eddie Rosario to end the inning. After seven, the Tigers are up 6-3.

Boyd went six innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking one.

Tigers go in order in 7th

The Tigers went down in order against Twins reliever Pat Light, in his first full inning of work. Erick Aybar and Miguel Cabrera grounded out, before Victor Martinez struck out swinging to end the half inning. Going to the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers are holding on to a 6-3 lead.

Boyd ties career-high with 7 K's

Tigers starter Matt Boyd set the Twins down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, striking out Miguel Sano (sixth) and Eduardo Escobar (seventh) in the process. The strikeout of Escobar tied a career-high for Boyd, with seven. It's the fourth time Boyd has struck out seven in a game. After six, the Tigers are ahead 6-3.

Tigers blanked for third straight inning

Twins left-hander Ryan O’Rourke, entering his third inning out of the bullpen, continued to stymie the Tigers in the top of the sixth inning. Casey McGehee grounded out and Jarrod Saltalamacchia struck out to get two quick outs, before O'Rourke walked Andrew Romine — only the second baserunner allowed by the lefty since entering to start the third inning. Pat Light then came in to replace O’Rourke, getting Cameron Maybin to ground out to end the inning. Going to the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers remain ahead, 6-3.

O’Rourke went 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, striking out two and walking one.

Twins cut Tiger lead to 6-3

The Twins got another run back in the bottom of the fifth inning — again on a home run. After Kurt Suzuki flew out to start the half inning, Boyd struck out Eddie Rosario — his fifth of the night. Brian Dozier then hit a solo home run to left field before Boyd settled back in, getting Robbie Grossman — who homered in the third inning — to pop out. After five, the Tigers are up 6-3.

Tigers have dramatic, fruitless 5th

The top of the fifth inning was not without some drama for the Tigers.

Miguel Cabrera led off the inning with a single down the third base line — that was originally ruled a foul ball, and reviewed. The review, which took 2 minutes, 47 seconds to complete overturned the call, at which point Tigers manager Brad Ausmus asked for the hit to be ruled a double — to no avail. After Victor Martinez struck out looking on a questionable third strike — after which he and home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor exchanged words. J.D. Martinez then hit a ball to deep center field that looked like it might have a chance. However, Twins center fielder Eddie Rosario — backed up to the wall — made the grab for the second out. Then, after a balk that moved Cabrera to second base, Justin Upton grounded out to end the half inning. Going to the bottom of the fifth, the Tigers are still ahead, 6-2.

Cabrera is now 3-for-3, and is a triple from the cycle.

Twins go in order in 4th

Tigers starter Matt Boyd appears to be dialed in. He set the Twins down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fourth, for the second time of the night. Boyd got Jorge Polanco to pop out, before getting Eduardo Escobar and Max Kepler to ground out. After four, the Tigers are ahead 6-2.

Tigers strand single in 4th

After the Twins went to the bullpen — replacing starter Tyler Duffey with left-hander Ryan O'Rourke — the Tigers stranded another single in the top of the fourth. After Eddie Rosario — who ran down a Casey McGehee fly ball to end the top of the third — ran down another one — this time from Jarrod Saltalamacchia to start the fourth, Andrew Romine then hit a broken-bat single to put one on with one out. Cameron Maybin then flew out and Erick Aybar grounded out to end the inning. Going to the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers are up 6-2.

Duffey went three innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, while striking out two and walking one.

Boyd allows homer, fans three in 3rd

With one out in the bottom of the third, the Twins got a run back. Robbie Grossman hit a no-doubter to left field, which landed in the upper deck. Boyd — who got the first out on a strikeout of Brian Dozier — then struck out Miguel Sano and Trevor Plouffe. After three, the Tigers lead 6-2.

Tigers break game open in 3rd, go up 6-1

The Tigers broke the game open in the top of the third inning.

After Andrew Romine struck out to lead off the inning. Cameron Maybin then singled before Erick Aybar hit a line drive right at Twins first baseman Trevor Plouffe, who stepped on the bag to get Aybar before throwing to second in an attempt to get Maybin. The throw was off-line, however, and Maybin was safe. Miguel Cabrera then knocked in Maybin, with a double off the wall in right field, to give the Tigers back the lead. After a walk to Victor Martinez put two on with two outs, J.D. Martinez followed with an RBI single, scoring Cabrera — and extending his hitting streak to 14 games. Justin Upton then cleared the bases with a three-run home run. Casey McGehee looked to have extra bases, but instead flew out to end the inning — on a great running grab by Twins center fielder Eddie Rosario. Going to the bottom of the third, the Tigers have a 6-1 lead.

Boyd sets Twins down in order in 2nd

Tigers starter Matt Boyd recovered from his rough first inning, retiring the Twins in order in the bottom of the second. Boyd struck out Max Kepler to start the half inning, before getting Kurt Suzuki to pop out to Andrew Romine behind second base. Boyd then got Eddie Rosario to ground out to first to end the inning. After two, the game remains tied, 1-1.

Upton's bat stays hot in 2nd

The Tigers offense, except for a leadoff single from Justin Upton — whose bat continues to produce, of late — was absent in the top of the second inning. Upton was erased on Casey McGehee’s 5-4-3 double play before Jarrod Saltalamacchia grounded to first to end the half inning. Going to the bottom of the second the Tigers and Twins remain tied, 1-1.

Boyd loads bases, only allows a run

Tigers starter Matt Boyd got into a bit of trouble in the bottom of the first inning. Brian Dozier led off with a single, before Boyd walked Robbie Grossman. Miguel Sano then hit a sacrifice fly, moving Dozier to third. Trevor Plouffe followed with an RBI single, scoring Dozier. The next batter, Jorge Polanco singled to load the bases. Boyd then settled down, getting Eduardo Escobar to ground into a 4-3 double play to quickly prevent further trouble. After one, the Tigers and Twins are tied, 1-1.

Cabrera crushes early homer

The Tigers got to Twins starter Tyler Duffey early on Wednesday. After Cameron Maybin — batting leadoff in place of the slumping Ian Kinsler — struck out swinging to lead off the game and Erick Aybar grounded out to first base, Miguel Cabrera hit a home run to straightaway center field, putting the Tigers on the board. Victor Martinez followed with a two-out single before J.D. Martinez grounded out to end the half inning. Going to the bottom of the first, the Tigers are up 1-0.

How to watch: Tigers at Twins

Tigers left-hander Matt Boyd will be on the mound tonight for the second of a three-game series in Minnesota.

Boyd is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in his career against the Twins, having allowed two earned runs in 12 innings in two starts. He pitched six shutout innings against the Twins on July 18 in Detroit in a 1-0 victory.

He has allowed three runs or fewer in each of his last eight starts and is 4-0 with a 2.06 ERA during that time.

Minnesota will counter with right-hander Tyler Duffey, who allowed five runs in his last outing against the World Series champion Royals.

The Tigers are coming off an 8-3 victory in the opener last night.

Cameron Maybin, who appeared in his second game after a stint on the disabled list with a left thumb injury, reached base three times and drove in three runs, including a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning.

“I am at a point where we have a lot of important games coming up, and I just feel like I need to be in the lineup whether I’m 100 percent or not. It’s tough having a thumb issue, but it is what it is," Maybin said.

Anibal Sanchez (7-12) pitched seven innings to win a start on the road for the first time since the first week of the season, and the Tigers broke the game open in the seventh with soaring home runs by Erick Aybar and Victor Martinez.

The Twins fell to 2-8 against the Tigers this year, losing their fifth straight game. That’s their longest skid since dropping five in a row June 14-18.

“I’m holding on the hope we’re going to play better and get back on track,” manager Paul Molitor said.

Here's the coverage from The Detroit New last night.

Gamer: Tigers take care of business, power past Twins

Sidebar: Tigers baserunning charge led by — Victor Martinez?

Notebook: Absence of good-luck charm gets Tigers twisted

Feature: Tigers' aces of the future playing pivotal roles now

Photos: Tigers 8, Twins 3

TIGERS LINEUP

1. Cameron Maybin, CF

2. Erick Aybar, SS

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. J.D. Martinez, DH

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Casey McGehee, 3B

8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C

9. Andrew Romine, 2B

Matt Boyd, P

TWINS LINEUP

1. Brian Dozier, 2B

2. Robbie Grossman, LF

3. Miguel Sano, DH

4. Trevor Plouffe, 1B

5. Jorge Polanco, SS

6. Eduardo Escobar, 3B

7. Max Kepler, RF

8. Kurt Suzuki, C

9. Eddie Rosario, CF

Tyler Duffey, P

TIGERS VS. TWINS

When: Wednesday, 8:10 p.m.

Where: Target Field, Minneapolis

Pitching matchup: LHP Matt Boyd (4-2, 3.93 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Duffey (8-9, 5.93 ERA)

Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit

National TV: None

Internet streaming: MLB.TV (blacked out in Detroit market)

Local radio: 97.1 FM

Satellite radio: SIRI Internet 849