Tigers explode in the 8th inning to take the series versus the Diamondbacks

Miguel Cabrera hit a 2-run single with 2 outs in the bottom of the 8th inning to give Detroit a 3-2 lead. That led to an explosion. By the time 8 straight Tigers had reached base, and 9 of 10, Detroit was up 8-2. The 8th inning turned into a 7 run landslide, all with 2 outs. Prior to that Detroit had managed 1 run on Jhonny Peralta's 12th home run of the season, and 4 hits.

Victor Martinez followed with an RBI single. Jhonny Peralta then had an RBI single. Brennan Boesch loaded the bases back up with an infield single. Brandon Inge then delivered a 2 run single. An error on a Don Kelly grounder scored Boesch. That was Kelly's second at-bat of the inning. He had a pinch hit single earlier in the inning to get the rally started. Austin Jackson had 2 of the 3 outs in the inning, both on strikeouts. He Ked four times on the day. Tough day for Jackson.

Al Alburquerque pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in relief of Brad Penny. His win upped his record to 5-1 on the year. Arizona scored a run with 2 outs in the top of the 9th but Jose Valverde got the final out.

Penny gave up 2 runs on 6.2 innings, but the offensive explosion came after he departed.

Jhonny Peralta was 3-4 on the day and Cabrera was 2-4.

The win, combined with Cleveland getting swept by San Francisco, put Detroit back on top of the AL Central. The Giants come to town next, so hopefully Detroit can cool them off. I think they'll miss Justin Verlander. In the last two turns through the rotation only Verlander and Max Scherzer have earned wins as starters. Al Alburquerque earned the other 2 wins. Penny has pitched well with no wins to show for it three straight outings, but Rick Porcello and Phil Coke are going to have to step it up.

Detroit earned a big come from behind win on the day when they retired Sparky Anderson's jersey before the game. His name and number went up on the outfield wall in a pre-game ceremony that brought a number of members of the 1984 World Series champions and members of Sparky's family on the field. Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammell also watched from the Arizona dugout.