DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers (21-11) used a pair of three-run home runs to end a two-game losing streak and smash the Minnesota Twins (16-19) 9-3 on Saturday.
Boxscore: Tigers stomp Twins
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The Tigers scored three runs in the second inning before bringing Miguel Cabrera to the plate with two men on. Cabrera hit a blast to right field, giving Detroit a 6-0 lead.
Minnesota immediately answered with a three-run shot of its own, when Brian Dozier took Max Scherzer deep for the Twins' only three runs of the game.
Victor Martinez gave the Tigers some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh with his team-leading eighth home run, scoring Torii Hunter and Cabrera.
The six-run second inning chased starter Kyle Gibson, whose ERA ballooned from 3.50 to 4.74. Anthony Swarzak was excellent for Minnesota, allowing just one base runner in four innings while striking out three. Martinez's home run came off of Michael Tonkin, virtually sealing the game for Detroit.
Every Tiger starter notched at least one hit, and Martinez and Don Kelly each had two.
Scherzer went six innings, allowing just five hits and three runs. Detroit's bullpen kept the Twins off the board for three innings. Struggling lefty Phil Coke pitched the ninth inning, allowing just one hit.
Saturday's win improved Detroit's lead to 4.5 games over the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division Standings. Chicago plays Arizona on Saturday night.
The Tigers and Twins will finish this three-game series on Sunday, as Robbie Ray makes his second career start for Detroit.