DETROIT – Phil Hughes was dominant for the Minnesota Twins (16-18) on Friday as last-place team in the American League Central Division beat the Detroit Tigers (20-11) in the first of a three-game weekend series.
View Boxscore: Hughes shuts down Tigers
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Hughes kept Detroit off the board for seven strong innings, throwing virtually all fastballs en route to his fourth win of the season. The Tigers mustered eight hits off of the right-hander but failed to plate a run.
Justin Verlander went pitch for pitch with Hughes until the seventh inning, when catcher Kurt Suzuki delivered a two-run single with two outs to give Minnesota its only runs of the game. The Tiger bullpen posted two scoreless frames to give the offense a chance to make a late comeback.
Detroit made its final charge in the bottom of the ninth, when doubles by Austin Jackson and Alex Avila put a run on the board. But Nick Castellanos struck out on a high pitch way out of the strike zone, and closer Glen Perkins retired J.D. Martinez and Rajai Davis with Avila on second to earn the save.
Jackson had a productive game for Detroit, notching three hits to raise his average to .305 and stealing his fifth base of the season. Victor Martinez went 0-4, snapping his 11-game hitting streak.
Detroit will try to end a two-game skid Saturday afternoon behind Max Scherzer. The defending AL Cy Young Award winner has won his last four starts and will battle right-handed Kyle Gibson.