Brewers 8, Tigers 1
DETROIT -- Ryan Braun, Adam Lind and Aramis Ramirez hit consecutive home runs in a six-run third inning and Jimmy Nelson tamed the Detroit Tigers on three hits over eight innings Tuesday night to power the Milwaukee Brewers to an 8-1 victory over the Tigers.
The right-handed Nelson (2-4) gave up a single in each of the first two innings but not another one until first baseman Miguel Cabrera grounded a base hit to right with two outs in the eighth. He walked four, hit one and struck out five, with 14 of his 24 outs coming via ground balls (including one double play).
Right-hander Corey Knebel, a 2013 first-round draft pick of Detroit, made his Milwaukee debut and pitched a scoreless ninth.
Detroit right-hander Anibal Sanchez (3-5) faced three batters in each of the first two innings but came apart in the third after getting the first out. He walked two, struck out two and was roughed up for seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
Braun doubled home Milwaukee's final run with two outs in the ninth.
Milwaukee center fielder Carlos Gomez followed a one-out double by second baseman Hector Gomez with a two-out bunt that he beat out for an RBI single that tied the score at 1-1.
Then came the home runs.
Designated hitter Braun hit a three-run shot off the foul pole after right fielder Gerardo Parra walked. Lind's drive to right made it 5-1, and Ramirez's shot into the left-field seats for a 6-1 lead. Braun now has nine home runs, Lind seven and Ramirez five.
The Brewers got a two-out RBI double from Carlos Gomez in the fourth to chase Sanchez.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first when second baseman Ian Kinsler walked, stole second, took third on catcher Martin Maldonado's throwing error and scored on a single by right fielder J.D. Martinez.
NOTES: DH Victor Martinez was placed on the 15-day disabled list by Detroit, which called up left-handed hitting OF Tyler Collins from Triple-A Toledo to replace him. ... Hector Gomez made his second straight start at second base for Milwaukee, but manager Craig Counsell said it will still be a day-to-day decision who plays there. ... The Tigers' bullpen brought a 1.31 May ERA into Tuesday night's game (six earned runs in 41 1/3 innings). ... Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez posted his eighth save on Monday night and Counsell said "he doesn't get enough credit for how consistently he kind of keeps reinventing himself. He's a very savvy pitcher."