Detroit Tigers defeat Minnesota Twins 8-4 – MLB Update
The Detroit Tigers cashed in on their chance to extend their lead in the American League Central, beating last-placed Minnesota Twins 8-4 in the first game of the three-game series at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, September 9.
The Twins scored four runs in the first inning to put the home team under pressure but the Tigers clawed back strongly, eradicating the deficit and gaining a lead as early as the fourth inning. Detroit’s bull-pen did well to remain composed throughout the
game, not allowing the Twins any other scoring opportunity apart from the first inning fiasco.
Trevor Plouffe, Joe Mauer, Jason Kubel and Danny Valencia scored a run each to give the Twins a perfect start, but Kevin Slowey could not keep up with his team’s batting and lost his fifth start of the season with no wins against his name this season. Slowey
was unglued for six runs in his spell of four innings which also saw him being smashed twice for home-runs.
Alex Avila initiated the reply for the Tigers with a three-run homer towards left-field to bring his team just one-run shy of the deficit. Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez scored their runs off this hit to improve their average for the season to .332 and
.326 respectively. Cabrera and Martinez have emerged strongly to strengthen Detroit’s line-up and the management will now want both of them to replicate their form in the postseason.
Avila scored again in the fourth inning to bring the game back in balance before Ramon Santiago unleashed a two-run home-run down the right flank to give his team a precious two-run advantage over the shaky Twins.
Delmon Young was due to return to form after having had an ordinary season thus far and this was just the right time for him to hit form. The left out-fielder pulled Kyle Waldrop’s loose pitch towards left-field to joyfully complete his home-run in the fifth
inning before Avila scored his third run of the night to extend Detroit’s advantage to four-runs over Minnesota.
Brad Penny was lucky to win his tenth game of the season to equal his number of losses after leaking four runs in the first inning. Avila’s brilliance from the plate had a major role in this win.
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