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The Grand Slam: Twins spoil J.D. Martinez's ninth-inning heroics

Big League Stew
 
 

The Minnesota Twins just wouldn't let Detroit Tigers slugger J.D. Martinez get the last word this time.

After Martinez hit yet another ninth-inning home run to give the Tigers a lead, the Twins came back with two runs in the bottom of the ninth against Joe Nathan to escape with a 4-3 victory at Target Field on Tuesday night.

Aaron Hicks hustled to beat out an infield RBI single with two outs, scoring pinch runner Chris Herrmann from third base with the winning run. Pinch runner Doug Bernier had scored the tying run from first base after Kurt Suzuki hit a sinking line drive to center that outfielder Ezequiel Carrera missed after a foolish diving attempt.

The rally ruined another clutch performance by Martinez, who took closer Glen Perkins deep for a three-run homer with two outs that just reached the overhang in right field — right above Hicks' waiting arms. Twins right-hander Ricky Nolasco had shut out the Tigers for eight innings, but Martinez has been uncanny this season in the late innings, and especially so in the ninth:

 

 

The Tigers remained 1 1/2 games ahead in the AL Central race of the Kansas City Royals, who fell 7-5 to the Chicago White Sox. Martinez realizes the Tigers missed a big chance to gain ground.

''Everyone was excited. We know what's going on. We're all in it,'' Martinez said. ''To come through was huge, but it hurts at the same time. Right now, it's pointless. Just got to come back tomorrow and get ready for tomorrow.''

MARINERS MOVE CLOSER IN WILD CARD RACE: The Seattle Mariners routed the Los Angeles Angels 13-2 and climbed within a game of the second wild-card spot in the American League. Chris Taylor drove in three runs, and Austin Jackson, Dustin Ackley and Mike Zunino drove in two apiece. The M's scored a season high in runs, including four in the fifth, and six in the sixth inning, to break it open. Seattle had scored only 14 runs combined in its previous eight games.

The Oakland Athletics fell at home 6-3 to the Texas Rangers. The A's lead the Royals by a game, and the Mariners by two games, for the wild-card spot.

GO-GO GOMEZ:

(AP)
(AP)

Carlos Gomez of the Milwaukee Brewers stole second base, and he stole third, before coming home with two outs on a bloop single by Hector Gomez in the 12th inning, the go-ahead run in a 3-2 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals. Gomez had drawn a one-out walk against left-hander Kevin Siegrist, and showed no fear with Yadier Molina behind the plate in trying to scratch across a run.

''Nobody runs on any catcher. You're always timing the pitcher,'' Gomez said. ''Everybody knows I'm running. They gave me the opportunity, he picked the leg up, I'm going.''

Milwaukee, which has won five of six, closed to within four games of first-place St. Louis with 11 to play.

ALL-TIME ALTUVE: Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros became the franchise's career single-season hits leader with 211 with a single to center in the seventh against the Cleveland Indians. Craig Biggio, the former record-holder, was in attendance at Minute Maid Park and congratulated Altuve.

''When I was a kid growing up watching Craig Biggio and hundreds of players more, you know Biggio is second base,'' Altuve said. ''He got the record. He got 3,000 hits. He's going to be in the Hall of Fame sooner than later. For me to break the record is very important. I would like to have a career of at least 80 percent of the success that Biggio did.''

The Indians won 4-2 behind Corey Kluber, who struck out 14.

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David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at rdbrown@yahoo-inc.com and follow him on Twitter!

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