Martinez’s Homer Lifts Detroit Past Dodgers in Extras
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Leon Halip/Getty Images (LOS ANGELES, Calif.) — After giving up a three-run lead in the ninth, Victor Martinez gave Detroit a 7-6 win over the Dodgers with a solo home run in the top of the tenth. Martinez went 3-for-3 on the night as the Tigers (5-2) rebounded following a loss to Los Angeles in extras the previous night.
Detroit jumped out to an early lead when Martinez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first to start the scoring. The Dodgers (6-4) answered with two runs in the bottom half of the first and eventually took a 3-2 lead into the third inning.
However, starting pitcher Josh Beckett (0-0) gave up a three-run homer to Nick Castellanos in the top half of the third as the Tigers regained the lead. From there, Anibal Sanchez took control on the mound and held the Dodgers scoreless for the next three innings. Drew Smyly did the same in three innings of relief.
In the bottom of the ninth, Joe Nathan entered the game looking for a save. Claiming he was experiencing a “dead arm” in recent outings, Nathan gave up a leadoff homerun to Adrian Gonzalez that cut the lead to 6-4 before issuing back-to-back walks. After a Juan Uribe single loaded the bases with nobody out, Yasiel Puig struck out for the first out of the inning. Scott Van Slyke then brought in a run with a fielders choice before Dee Gordon singled to center, tying the game a 6-6.
Fortunately for Nathan, Carl Crawford flew out for the final out of the inning and sent the game into extras. It was there that Martinez blasted his second homer of the year off Dodger closer Kenley Jansen to put the Tigers back on top. Los Angeles got a lead off single from Hanley Ramirez in the bottom of the tenth but the next three batters went down in order to end the game.
Nathan (2-0) got the win despite the blown save in the bottom of the ninth while Jansen (0-1) took the loss.
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