Miguel Cabrera and Robbie Grossman hit back-to-back home runs to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 interleague victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.
Two days after hitting his 500th homer, Cabrera connected on No. 501. He crushed a 79-mph slider by starter Jack Flaherty into Big Mac Land, which is name of the upper left field deck, in the third inning. At 423 feet, it was his second longest home run this season.
The Cardinals immediately removed Flaherty (9-2) with what the team said was right shoulder tightness. In two innings, Flaherty allowed four runs on four hits with three walks on 46 pitches. He velocity dropped dramatically after the first inning.
The 25-year-old starter missed 60 games (June 1-Aug. 12) with an left oblique strain.
Casey Mize (7-6) pitched five scoreless innings. He checked the Cardinals on three hits.
The Cardinals scored three runs in the eighth, but the Tigers hang on for the 4-3 win.
OF Dylan Carlson (right wrist sprain) was activated before the game after missing two weeks. He hit third between Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado for the first time this season. LF Tyler O’Neill (back tightness) was a late scratch from the starting line. Rookie Lars Nootbar took his place in left field.
LHP Jon Lester (4-6, 6.02 ) will make his 14th career start against the Tigers with a day game today, 11:20 with the pregame and the first pitch at 12:15 on KIRX.
First place Milwaukee leads second place Cincinnati by 8 1/2, the third place Cardinals are 13 games out.
In the wild card, the first place Dodgers lead number two Cincinnati by 10 1/2, San Diego one game out, the Cardinals 4 1/2 out, the Phillies are 5 games back.