By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com
Tigers 5, Phillies 4– The Tigers blasted four home runs in Monday’s series opening victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera hit two solo homers while J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos each added a solo shot.
Victor Martinez knocked in the game-winning run with a single in the seventh inning to give the Tigers the lead.
Both teams traded a run in the third inning, the Phillies took a 3-1 lead in the fifth, Detroit responded with three in the bottom of the fifth to take a one run lead and Philadelphia tied the game in the sixth before the Tigers scored the winning run in the seventh.
Castellanos and Cabrera also chipped in with a double each for the Tigers.
Detroit’s starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey took a no decision, allowing four runs on 11 hits in six innings.
Justin Wilson pitched the victory for the Tigers while Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 13th save of the season.
The Phillies were led in a losing effort by Maikel Franco and Tommy Joseph with solo home runs each while Odubel Herrera and Cesar Hernandez added an RBI apiece.
The Tigers are now 22-22 on the season, good for fourth place in the American League Central Division behind the Chicago White Sox.
Detroit will look to win its series against the Phillies with a win on Tuesday night.
Record: 22-22
4th Place in AL Central Division (4.5 games behind Chicago)
3 games behind Texas for last playoff spot
Magic # to clinch a playoff spot: 122
Magic # to clinch an AL Central Division title: 123
Next Game: 05/24/2016 vs Philadelphia Phillies 7:10 p.m. @ Comerica Park
Hitting stats: Miguel Cabrera 2B (8) 2 HR (11) 2 RBI (28), Nick Castellanos 2B (12) HR (9) RBI (31), J.D. Martinez HR (10) RBI (24), Victor Martinez RBI (25).
Pitching stats: Justin Wilson W (1-1) 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 2 K, Francisco Rodriguez SV (13) 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K, Mike Pelfrey 6 IP 11 H 4 R 4 ER 0 BB 3 K.
