MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Matt Boyd breezed through eight innings, backed by home runs from James McCann and Miguel Cabrera as the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 8-1 on Tuesday night to step forward in the AL wild card race.
With Baltimore’s loss to Boston, the Tigers cut the deficit between them and the second spot to 1½ games with 12 games to go.
Boyd (6-4) bounced back from an 8-1 defeat by the Twins at home last week, giving up a homer to Robbie Grossman in the seventh among only three hits allowed. He matched his career best with seven strikeouts and walked just one, after being pounded by Minnesota for seven runs in 3 2/3 innings on Sept. 13.
McCann, in the designated hitter role for the injured Victor Martinez, sent a three-run shot into second deck above left-center in a four-run sixth against Hector Santiago (12-9). Cabrera hit his 34th homer the following inning, a two-run drive against Michael Tonkin.
Tigers keep Kinsler, Martinez out following hit by pitches
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Detroit Tigers held second baseman Ian Kinsler and designated hitter Victor Martinez out of the lineup last night at Minnesota. Both have injuries stemming from being hit by pitches in their previous game.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Kinsler still felt “a little foggy” two days after a beaning by Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer knocked his helmet off and triggered concussion-like symptoms.
Martinez was also hit by Bauer in the same inning on the knee, which remained purple and swollen on Tuesday.
Andrew Romine was playing second base and James McCann was the designated hitter for the start of the three-game series with the Twins.
