Castellanos' homer lifts Tigers past Twins
DETROIT -- Nick Castellanos hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh as the Detroit Tigers squandered an eight-run lead and then outlasted the Minnesota Twins, 10-8, on Monday at Comerica Park.
Castellanos had two hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who have won two straight after losing 11 of 12.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was ejected for arguing balls and strikes after the fourth inning by home plate umpire Doug Eddings. Ausmus pulled off his sweatshirt and placed it over home plate before leaving the field.
Ian Kinsler had three hits, including two extra-base hits during an eight-run first inning, scored two runs and drove in two more for Detroit. J.D. Martinez supplied three hits, including a homer, and knocked in two runs while Jose Iglesias added a three-run double.
Detroit's Cameron Maybin, making his season debut after coming off the 15-day disabled list, reached base three times. Jordan Zimmerman (6-2) got the win despite allowing eight runs, seven earned, in seven innings while striking out nine. Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 10th save.
Kurt Suzuki and Miguel Sano homered for Minnesota.
Twins rookie starter Jose Berrios lasted just two-thirds of an inning. He was charged with seven runs on three hits while issuing four walks.
Minnesota completed its comeback in the seventh inning when right fielder J.D. Martinez dropped Trevor Plouffe's two-out fly ball, allowing Byung Ho Park to score.
Castellanos led off the bottom of the inning against reliever Pat Dean (0-1) with his eighth homer. Martinez added an insurance run with his homer in the eighth.
Kinsler jumped on Berrios' first pitch for his eighth homer of the season and 33rd leadoff homer of his career. Nick Castellanos drove in the second run with a one-out single
Berrios' third and fourth walks, the last to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, forced in the third run with two out. Iglesias then ended Berrios' night with bases-clearing double off the left-centerfield wall.
Kinsler greeted reliever Pat Dean with a bloop double to make it 7-0. J.D. Martinez completed the first-inning barrage with another run-scoring double.
Suzuki's first homer of the season during the second inning put Minnesota on the board. Sano's sixth homer the following inning made it 8-3.
The Twins then batted around in the fourth to cut the Tigers' lead to one. Trevor Plouffe scored on Saltalamacchia's throwing error and Danny Santana, Eduardo Nunez and Sano supplied RBI singles.
NOTES: Detroit CF Cameron Maybin made his season debut after being activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday. Maybin suffered a wrist fracture when hit by a pitch during spring training, then sprained his shoulder during one of his rehab stints. "You never know when a guy's going to be a sparkplug, but he's got a track record," manager Brad Ausmus said. ... CF Anthony Gose was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to make room for Maybin. He was hitting .209 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 91 at-bats. ... Ausmus brushed aside questions about his job status. "We're beating a dead horse," he said. ... Minnesota RHP Kyle Gibson, who is recovering from a shoulder strain, threw a 45-pitch bullpen session on Monday. Gibson was 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA before he was placed on the 15-day DL April 26. ... Twins DH/1B Joe Mauer entered the game with 98 career hits at Comerica Park, the most by an active opponent.