MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Michael Fulmer allowed two earned runs in five innings to win his major league debut and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 9-2 Friday night.
Victor Martinez homered among his four hits, and Miguel Cabrera and Nick Castellanos also went deep for the Tigers, who had a season-high 18 hits.
Considered Detroit’s top pitching prospect, Fulmer (1-0) allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out four.
Detroit got the 23-year-old righty last summer in the trade that sent slugger Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets. Last season’s Eastern League Player of the Year, Fulmer was 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 15 1/3 innings of Triple-A action before his Friday call-up.
For the second straight start, Phil Hughes (1-4) struggled to get the first three outs for Minnesota. He lasted a season-low five innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs.
