Nicholas Castellanos, Detroit Tigers outlast Minnesota Twins in wild, bench-clearing game

MINNEAPOLIS -- Nicholas Castellanos belted his third homer of the season as the Detroit Tigers outlasted the Minnesota Twins 5-4 in a long, mistake-filled afternoon game on Saturday that included a benches-clearing altercation.

Detroit's Justin Upton also launched his third homer and John Hicks had two hits in his season debut after being recalled earlier in the day as Miguel Cabrera went on the disabled list with a strained right groin.

Blaine Hardy (1-0) pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief after Matt Boyd was ejected for throwing behind Minnesota's Miguel Sano. Francisco Rodriguez allowed a solo homer to Jason Castro in the ninth but recorded his sixth save in eight chances.

Michael Tonkin (0-1) took the loss in relief of Twins starter Adalberto Mejia. Tonkin allowed one run in one inning of work. Mejia lasted just 2 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Minnesota reliever Justin Haley hit Tigers outfielder JaCoby Jones in the face with a pitch in the third inning. Two innings later, Boyd threw a pitch behind Sano which caused the Twins' slugger to point at Boyd and start the scuffle. Sano was restrained by home plate umpire Jordan Baker and Detroit catcher James McCann, but Sano pushed McCann after the catcher's glove hit him in the face.

The benches cleared and the relievers ran in from the bullpens in center field. Sano and Boyd were each ejected.

Jones left the game and was bleeding from the mouth after being hit.

Castellanos ran in to support McCann after Sano's push and the Tigers third baseman took exception when Boyd was ejected. Castellanos then came up the sixth inning and hit an RBI double to center to score Mikie Mahtook, who had been walked by Tonkin.

McCann plated Castellanos with a sacrifice fly later in the inning.

Boyd pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks. He struck out three but both starters had trouble with Baker's tight strike zone early. Boyd threw 80 pitches and Mejia had 70 pitches in his short outing.

Hicks misplayed a foul pop-up in the second inning, allowing Minnesota's Jorge Polanco to remain at the plate before delivering an RBI double. The Twins committed two errors in the game.

Castellanos and Upton both homered in the third for Detroit.

NOTES: Minnesota 3B Miguel Sano was ejected for the first time this season and second time of his career. Detroit RHP Matt Boyd was ejected for the first time in his career. ... Thirteen different pitchers were used by the two teams in the game. ... Twins 1B Joe Mauer was held out of the starting lineup against the left-handed Boyd, but he replaced Sano and doubled off the center-field wall. ... RHP Kyle Gibson (0-2, 6.91 ERA) will start Sunday for Minnesota against Detroit RHP Michael Fulmer (1-1, 3.00).