DETROIT — The Tigers had been threatening to produce big innings against the Twins all Saturday afternoon. They eventually got the breakout inning they’ve been seeking for nearly a month, and they did it on situational singles and walks.
Not only was Detroit able to put up a five-spot in the seventh without the benefit of an extra-base hit, but neither Robbie Grossman’s leadoff single nor Miguel Cabrera’s go-ahead single escaped the infield. The Tigers still ended up with more runs in one inning than they scored in 23 of their previous 33 games this season, propelling them to a much-needed 7-3 win at Comerica Park.
Grossman went 3-for-3 against his former team to go with a hit-by-pitch, falling a triple shy of the cycle. He reached safely to lead off four of Detroit’s first seven innings, including a home run to right off José Berríos’ third pitch of the afternoon. Grossman was stranded at third base in the third inning, then was doubled off in the fifth trying to backtrack to third on Jeimer Candelario’s fly ball to center, a trend that helped Berríos endure for a quality start.
Though Berríos walked five and hit another batter over six innings, he allowed just two runs over six innings to keep Minnesota in a low-scoring duel. On the flip side, the Twins hammered 10 balls with a 100 mph exit velocity or harder against Tigers starter José Ureña, but had only Josh Donaldson’s two-run homer to show for it.
Ureña gave up nine hits over 4 1/3 innings, ending his streak of four consecutive seven-inning starts. Michael Fulmer inherited his bases-loaded jam in the fifth and retired Miguel Sanó and Ben Rortvedt, sending him on his way to 2 2/3 scoreless innings and his second win of the year.