Twins yield 18 hits in 9-2 loss to Tigers

MINNEAPOLIS -- When Phil Hughes walked the first batter Friday night, it was a bad omen for the Minnesota Twins.

Giving up a home run to Miguel Cabrera seemed almost routine.

Michael Fulmer allowed two earned runs in five innings to win his major league debut and the Detroit Tigers beat the Twins 9-2.

Victor Martinez homered among his four hits, and Cabrera and Nick Castellanos also went deep for the Tigers, who had a season-high 18 hits.

For the second straight start, Hughes (1-4) struggled to get the first three outs for Minnesota, including a free pass to leadoff hitter Ian Kinsler, just the fifth walk issued by Hughes in five starts. One to rarely have control problems, Hughes only issued 16 walks in each of the last two seasons.

"Uncharacteristically he walked the leadoff man and it didn't bode well after that," Minnesota manager Paul Molitor said. "They hit some balls hard."

J.D. Martinez had an RBI double in the first inning as Detroit took a 3-0 lead. Hughes allowed two first-inning runs last Saturday in a 2-0 loss at Washington.

"Command was all over the place. I couldn't really repeat my delivery or hit a spot," he said. "Before you know it, its three runs and we're trying to climb out of a hole.

"It's one of those things that for whatever reason I've been inconsistent early. I'm trying to find a little bit of a groove. It could have been a lot better."

Hughes lasted a season-low five innings, allowing seven hits and four earned runs.

The last of those runs came off the bat Cabrera. A career .439 hitter against Hughes, the slugging Tiger homered in the fifth to make it 4-1. It was Cabrera's sixth career home run off the Minnesota right-hander, his most off any pitcher.

"I had a pretty good pitch down and away, but he can cover the entire strike zone," Hughes said. "He does that a lot."

Considered Detroit's top pitching prospect, Fulmer (1-0) allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out four.

Consistently reaching the mid-90s with his fastball and coupling it with a sharp slider, Fulmer struck out three of the first six Minnesota hitters.

"He pitched really good. Good stuff, sinker, changeup, power slider," Twins center fielder Danny Santana said.

Fulmer was cruising until three straight two-out singles in the fourth inning resulted in one Minnesota run. An RBI double by Miguel Sano pulled the Twins to 4-2 in the fifth.

Victor Martinez and Castellanos hit solo shots in the eighth.

MILONE TO THE BULLPEN

LHP Tommy Milone has been sent to the Minnesota bullpen after going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in four starts.

Ricky Nolasco is scheduled to start at home Sunday, followed by Jose Berrios and Alex Meyer Monday and Tuesday in Houston. Meyer, who had yet to appear in a game since his April 25 recall from Triple-A Rochester gave up five hits and two runs in one inning of relief Friday before beginning to prepare for his first career start.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: OF Cameron Maybin (left wrist fracture) was to serve as designated hitter at Triple-A Toledo Friday as he continues his rehabilitation. ... C James McCann was to catch nine innings at Toledo Friday as he works his way back from a right-ankle sprain. Manager Brad Ausmus wouldn't rule out McCann returning to the Tigers this weekend.

Twins: RHP Ervin Santana on the 15-day DL since April 20 with a lower back strain is scheduled to have a light throwing session Saturday. ... Molitor indicated that RHP Kyle Gibson, on the DL since April 23 with a right shoulder strain, probably won't come off when he's eligible, but was optimistic Gibson wouldn't miss much more time than that.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (4-0, 0.35 ERA) starts Saturday in the middle game of the three-game series. He has allowed just one earned run in his four starts, including 24 1/3 scoreless innings to begin the year.

Twins: RHP Tyler Duffey (0-0, 2.25) pitched four innings last Sunday in Washington before exiting the game after getting hit on his throwing shoulder by a line drive.