Verlander records 2,000th strikeout, Tigers sweep Twins
DETROIT -- Justin Verlander recorded his 2,000th strikeout, Ian Kinsler homered for the fourth straight game and the Detroit Tigers complete a three-game sweep of the sloppy Minnesota Twins with a 6-3 win on Wednesday at Comerica Park.
Verlander (3-4) did not give up a run until the seventh as the Tigers won their fourth straight. He was charged with three runs on six hits in 7 1/3 innings while striking out 10.
Verlander reached his milestone by blowing a high fastball past Eddie Rosario during the fourth inning. The only other pitcher in franchise history to record that many strikeouts was Mickey Lolich, who had 2,679.
Kinsler, who hit 11 home runs in 154 games last season, drove his team-high 10th homer of the season over the left field wall in the sixth. He also had two singles while scoring two runs and driving in a pair.
J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera each had two hits, a run scored and an RBI for Detroit. Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 11th save.
Minnesota starter Ricky Nolasco (1-2) allowed four runs -- two earned -- on nine hits in five innings while taking the loss. The Twins, who have lost 15 of their last 18, committed three errors along with several other fielding gaffes.
Trevor Plouffe had two hits, a run scored and two RBI for Minnesota.
The Tigers struck quickly, as Kinsler led off the bottom of the first with a single, advanced on a throwing error and scored on Martinez's single.
Martinez sparked a two-run third with a one-out triple to right-center. He scored on Cabrera's sacrifice fly. Justin Upton's RBI bloop single made it 3-0.
Kinsler had an RBI single in the fourth, then made it 5-0 in the sixth with his two-out solo shot off reliever Taylor Rogers.
Danny Santana's bases-loaded sacrifice fly ended Verlander's shutout bid in the seventh.
Steven Moya's RBI single in the seventh gave Detroit a 6-1 lead.
Plouffe's two-run single off reliever Alex Wilson in the eighth cut the Tigers' advantage to three.
NOTES: Detroit DH Victor Martinez was a late scratch from Wednesday's lineup. The official announcement was to take an extra day of rest heading into Thursday's off day. He has appeared in every game this season. ... Twins SS Eduardo Escobar will begin a rehab stint with the Class A Fort Myers Miracle this weekend, manager Paul Molitor announced. Escobar was placed on the 15-day disabled list on May 7 with a left groin strain. ... Tigers RHP Shane Greene will make a rehab start for the Class A West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday at Fort Wayne, Ind. Greene was placed on the 15-day DL on April 29 with a blister on his right middle finger. ... Molitor said RHP Phil Hughes, who is battling shoulder fatigue, is still scheduled to make his next start on Sunday. Hughes, who got a no-decision on Tuesday, will throw a side session on Thursday.