J.D. Martinez hits 3-run homer in 9th
Tigers rally for 4-2 win over Indians
9/2/2014CLEVELAND — J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer off closer Cody Allen in the ninth inning, helping the Detroit Tigers rally for a 4-2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday night.
Martinez’s one-out shot over the center-field wall bailed out the Tigers, who had been unable to get a clutch hit for eight innings. But in the ninth, Torii Hunter drew a leadoff walk from Allen (5-4), Miguel Cabrera singled, and after Victor Martinez flied out, J.D. Martinez connected for his 19th homer, a crushing blow to the Indians.
Phil Coke (3-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings and Joe Nathan worked the ninth for his 29th save.
Detroit’s comeback kept the Tigers on the heels of first-place Kansas City in the AL Central.
The Indians wasted a strong performance by Carlos Carrasco, who side-stepped danger for 5 1/3 innings and struck out a career-high 10.
Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer for Cleveland, which has dropped the first two in this critical four-game series.
J.D. Martinez has hit two homers in three career at-bats off Allen, who was trying to protect a 2-1 lead against the middle of Detroit’s vaunted lineup.
Until Detroit’s uprising, Carrasco was in line for his fourth straight win. The right-hander managed to work out of jams in four straight innings, making big pitches and keeping the Tigers’ power hitters in the ballpark one night after Detroit slugged five homers and collected 20 hits.
Tigers rookie starter Kyle Lobstein was superb in his first career road start, allowing five hits in 5 1/3 innings and striking out 10.
Every time the Tigers threatened, Carrasco found a way out of trouble. Clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth, he gave up a leadoff double to Cabrera, who went to third on Victor Martinez’s single. Carrasco then struck out J.D. Martinez looking, fanned Nick Castellanos and locked up Alex Avila for his 10th strikeout.
After Carrasco gave up a one-out single in the sixth, manager Terry Francona pulled him and the 27-year-old received a rousing ovation from the appreciative crowd. Carrasco has a 0.90 ERA in his past five starts. Santana got the Indians out of the gate fast, hitting his 23rd homer in the first. Michael Brantley singled with two outs before Santana connected for a shot into Detroit’s bullpen in right.
TRAINER’S ROOM: Tigers — RHP Joakim Soria (strained left oblique) played catch from 140 feet before the game. Soria, acquired at the trade deadline from Texas to shore up Detroit’s shaky bullpen, has been on the disabled list since Aug. 10. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said Soria was pain-free for the first time, and will likely throw batting practice instead of pitching in the minors.
Indians — OF David Murphy, sidelined since Aug. 10 with an oblique injury, will begin a rehab stint on Wednesday with Triple-A Columbus. Murphy is batting .262 with seven homers and 55 RBIs in his first season with Cleveland.
Verlander has little to say regarding nude photos
CLEVELAND — Justin Verlander wants to keep his private life just that — private.
The Tigers’ spitcher commented for the first time Tuesday after nude photos of him and model girlfriend Kate Upton were allegedly hacked from an online account and posted on the Internet.
“I’m not going to comment on my personal life,” the 31-year-old said. “I never have and I never plan on it. I keep my personal life personal.
“The focus for me is on the Detroit Tigers. I don’t want to take any focus away from this team and what we’re trying to accomplish. We’re in the middle of a pennant race. We’re trying to win a pennant and all of my focus currently is on doing whatever I can to help our team win our division.”
Verlander, Upton and other celebrities allegedly had photos stolen and posted online. The FBI has launched an investigation.
Verlander knew there was interest in his side of the story and wanted to address the situation.
“I know a couple of guys wanted to get some questions from me yesterday,” Verlander said. “Instead of everybody kind of sneaking around and getting questions at specific times, it’s just easier to say, ‘I’m not commenting on that.”