MIAMI It is a new bullpen. It was a familiar result. But the Detroit Tigers rallied for a season opening win anyway.
Ian Kinsler knocked in the winning run with a single in the top of the 11th inning Tuesday night as the Tigers escaped with an 8 7 win over the Miami Marlins in the first game for both teams.
Justin Verlander pitched well in his start for the Tigers and also had a key base hit. New Detroit closer Francisco Rodriguez blew a save in the ninth, but the Tigers rallied in the 11th to win it.
Here’s a quick look at the game:wholesale nfl jerseys from china
THREE STARS
Ian Kinsler Kinsler has hit Marlins left hander Wei Yin Chen well in the past and continued to do so in this one. Kinsler led off the game with a single and scored in the first inning, then smacked a Chen offering for a three run home run in the second inning following a two out single by Verlander. His single to left drove home Anthony Gose home with one out in the 11th inning and broke a 7 7 tie.
Anthony Gose Gose hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning to help extend Detroit’s lead, then drew a walk to lead off the 11th. He finished 2 for 4 with a walk, an RBI and three runs scored.
Dee Gordon The Miami infielder broke up Verlander’s no hit bid with a double in the sixth inning and scored his team’s first run. He tripled off Mark Lowe to lead off the eighth and scored in that inning, then tied the game in the ninth with an RBI double to cap off a three run rally for the Marlins.
GAME NOTES
Verlander became the first Tigers pitcher to get a hit on opening day since Mickey Lolich in 1971. His two out single in the second inning was a key for the Tigers since Kinsler followed it with a three run home run that gave the Tigers a 4 0 lead.
Gordon, the defending National League batting champion, broke up Verlander’s no hit bid with a one out double in the sixth. That was the start of a three run rally for the Marlins against Verlander that cut the Tigers’ lead to 5 3. Giancarlo Stanton capped off that Miami rally with a two run home run.
Gose and Victor Martinez hit back to back home runs in the ninth to give the Tigers a 7 4 lead before Rodriguez gave that lead back.
The Marlins erased a three run deficit in the bottom of the ninth and sent the game to extra innings against Rodriguez. The damage would have been worse, but Rodriguez was bailed out by an excellent defensive play by Justin Upton in left field.
Upton had two hits, scored a run and played solid defense in left field in his Tigers debut.
Shane Greene, who is scheduled to make his first start of the season Monday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitched a 1 2 3 11th and earned the save.