In the eighth inning, pinch-hitter J.D. Martinez hit the first pitch, a 92 miles per hour two-seamer, for his 13th home run of the season, giving the Tigers the 2-1 lead they’d take to the end of the game.
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The most encouraging aspect of Detroit’s seventh straight win was Anibal Sanchez’s performance. Detroit applied pressure in the seventh with three straight singles to start the inning, but a popout and two flyouts cut off the scoring after one run. Sale has been scratched from his start against the Detroit Tigers after he was involved in what the team says was a “nonphysical clubhouse incident”. Jose Quintana (9-8) allowed three runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. Through those two seasons and the start of 2016 Ausmus never seemed to lose his cool, or show any emotion at all.
Martinez didn’t hit a home run during eight rehab games in the minors, but he got a charge from the standing ovation he received when he pinch-hit for James McCann.
With Cleveland’s loss, that means the Tigers enter Wednesday just three games back in the AL Central, which is surprising for a team that was 24-27 at the end of May. He gave a wave of acknowledgement after the stadium D.J. played the “Welcome Back Kotter” theme song, to go with the video of his monumental home run.
Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he told centerfielder Cameron Maybin that he’d get a day off to rest, even before tests revealed Maybin’s mild left thumb sprain. Rodriguez struck out Todd Frazier, but walked Avisail Garcia to load the bases.
AJ Ramos uncorked a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, allowing the winning run to score, as the Cubs tallied three times in the frame to come from behind and complete a series sweep of the visiting Miami Marlins yesterday, 5-4.
Gausman (3-8) allowed two runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts over seven innings. “You feel for the kid, just like the other ones that have come up”, Ventura said.
Victor Martinez hit No. 18 of the season for the Tigers, during the eighth.
“We’ve always known that Avi has the potential to hit balls like that, and it is great to see him start to do it”, Ventura said. “He’s a big kid, and he’s finally putting it all together”. His leg buckled under him, and Adam Eaton had to field the ball in right-center while Tilson was lying on the field.
That’s outfielder Charlie Tilson, a Wilmette native who attended New Trier High School, who was acquired by the White Sox in a trade with the Cardinals for Zach Duke on Sunday. Martinez was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday after missing seven weeks with a fractured elbow. Tilson was starting his first Major League Baseball game in front of friends and family at Comerica Park and recorded his first hit in his first at-bat.
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He got out of a bases-loaded jam with two outs as Dioner Navarro grounded out to second to end the game. Both times, Cabrera presented the player with the ball at first base and offered a congratulatory pat on the back.
