Cabrera powers Tigers past Marlins
DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera blasted a go-ahead, three-run homer during a seven-run fifth and the Detroit Tigers held on for a 7-5 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday at Comerica Park.
Cabrera's homer was sandwiched by two-run shots from Jose Iglesias and Nick Castellanos as the Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak. Castellanos wound up a double shy of a cycle.
Mike Pelfrey (2-7) lasted 5 1/3 innings despite giving up four runs on 12 hits and got the win. Francisco Rodriguez collected his 21st save.
Giancarlo Stanton had three hits, including a two-run homer, and drove in three runs for the Marlins. Adeiny Hechavarria supplied three of the Marlins' 16 hits and scored two runs. Losing pitcher Adam Conley (4-5) allowed five runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings while tying his career high with nine strikeouts.
Miami scored single runs in the sixth and eighth, but couldn't overcome Detroit's fifth-inning outburst.
Stanton's 15th home run gave the Marlins a 2-0 lead in the second. Stanton followed Marcell Ozuna's leadoff single by crushing Pelfrey's offering over the center field wall. The Marlins then loaded the bases, but Pelfrey escaped further damage with the help of a double play.
Conley struck out six of the first seven batters he faced. Meanwhile, Pelfrey got touched for another run in the fifth. Stanton singled home Christian Yelich, who doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on an error.
Conley only gave up two hits over the first four innings, but suddenly fell apart in the fifth as Detroit took a 7-3 lead. Iglesias hit his third homer of the season to make it 3-2. Cabrera followed a double by Ian Kinsler and walk to Cameron Maybin with his 17th homer, a no-doubter into the left-field stands which ended Conley's night.
Castellanos capped Detroit's seven-run inning with a two-run shot to center off reliever Nick Wittgren.
NOTES: The Marlins selected the contract of LHP Jo-Jo Reyes, who was 1-1 with a 4.17 ERA in 22 appearances with Triple-A New Orleans. Reyes took the roster spot of RHP Paul Clemens, who was claimed off waivers by San Diego. ... Miami manager Don Mattingly flipped his starting pitchers for the next two games, with RHP Tom Koehler pitching Wednesday in Detroit and LHP Wei-Yin Chen starting the series opener Thursday at Atlanta. "It's really a chance to give (Chen) a little bit of a breather," Mattingly said. ... Detroit RHP Anibal Sanchez will return to the bullpen, manager Brad Ausmus announced. Sanchez, who began the season as the team's No. 3 starter, made a spot start Saturday and gave up four runs in five innings in a loss to Cleveland. ... The Tigers were 122-76 in interleague games since 2006, the second-best record in the league behind only Boston (126-69).