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Nick Castellanos' homer lifts Detroit Tigers past Minnesota Twins

By Dana Gauruder, The Sports Xchange
Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9). Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9). Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

DETROIT -- Ian Kinsler gave his manager style points for his creative response to an ejection.

Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus was tossed for arguing balls and strikes after the fourth inning by home plate umpire Doug Eddings. Ausmus pulled off his sweatshirt and placed it over home plate before leaving the field.

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Ausmus' antics provided some comic relief during Detroit's wild 10-8 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday at Comerica Park.

"That was entertaining," Kinsler said. "I thought he did a good job of sticking up for his player and obviously, he put on a little show. I think it got everyone excited. Everyone was excited in the stands. Anytime you can create energy like that, it's a good thing."

Winning pitcher Jordan Zimmermann got a kick out of it, too.

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"I took my time because I didn't know what was going to happen," he said. "I got on the mound, grabbed the ball, turned around and everything was cleaned up. And I was ready to pitch."

Ausmus wanted to prevent hot-hitting Nick Castellanos, who was called out on strikes before his tirade, from getting ejected. That proved to be crucial, as Castellanos hit a go-ahead home run in the seventh after the Tigers squandered an eight-run lead.

Castellanos had two hits and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who have won two straight after losing 11 of 12.

Kinsler had three hits, including two extra-base hits during an eight-run first inning, scored two runs and drove in two more for Detroit. J.D. Martinez supplied three hits, including a homer, and knocked in two runs while Jose Iglesias added a three-run double.

Detroit's Cameron Maybin, making his season debut after coming off the 15-day disabled list, reached base three times. Zimmermann (6-2) got the win despite allowing eight runs, seven earned, in seven innings while striking out nine.

"It wasn't the prettiest game I've ever pitched or been a part of," Zimmermann said.

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Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 10th save.

Kurt Suzuki and Miguel Sano homered for Minnesota.

"I'm not big on moral victories but we pecked away," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "Then we made a couple of mistakes late and that was the difference."

Twins rookie starter Jose Berrios lasted just two-thirds of an inning. He was charged with seven runs on three hits while issuing four walks.

Minnesota completed its comeback in the seventh inning when Martinez dropped Trevor Plouffe's two-out fly ball to right field, allowing Byung Ho Park to score.

"I can honestly say I've never dropped a ball like that," Martinez said. "I was coming a long way for it. Once I picked it up, I knew I had it. I just went out to catch it and it hit my palm and popped out."

Castellanos led off the bottom of the inning against reliever Pat Dean (0-1) with his eighth homer. Martinez added an insurance run with his homer in the eighth.

Kinsler jumped on Berrios' first pitch for his eighth homer of the season and 33rd leadoff homer of his career. Castellanos drove in the second run with a one-out single

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Berrios' third and fourth walks, the last to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, forced in the third run with two out. Iglesias then ended Berrios' night with bases-clearing double off the left-center-field wall.

"I'm not sure how flustered he got by the leadoff home run on the first pitch but he just had trouble commanding his three pitches," Molitor said of Berrios. "They did a good job of making him work."

Kinsler greeted Dean with a bloop double to make it 7-0. Martinez completed the first-inning barrage with another run-scoring double.

The Twins scored seven runs over the next three innings, highlighted by a four-run fourth, to cut Detroit's lead to one.

NOTES: Detroit CF Cameron Maybin made his season debut after being activated from the 15-day disabled list on Monday. Maybin suffered a wrist fracture when hit by a pitch during spring training, then sprained his shoulder during one of his rehab stints. "You never know when a guy's going to be a sparkplug, but he's got a track record," manager Brad Ausmus said. ... CF Anthony Gose was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to make room for Maybin. He was hitting .209 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 91 at-bats. ... Ausmus brushed aside questions about his job status. "We're beating a dead horse," he said. ... Minnesota RHP Kyle Gibson, who is recovering from a shoulder strain, threw a 45-pitch bullpen session on Monday. Gibson was 0-3 with a 6.10 ERA before he was placed on the 15-day DL April 26. ... Twins DH/1B Joe Mauer entered the game with 98 career hits at Comerica Park, the most by an active opponent.

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