DETROIT -- Ian Kinsler and J.D. Martinez hit consecutive homers during a seven-run seventh inning, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Tuesday night as manager Brad Ausmus served a one-game suspension.
Jose Iglesias hit a tiebreaking two-run single for the Tigers, who have won three straight after losing 11 of their previous 12. Ausmus was suspended one game for his tirade Monday, when he was ejected during Detroit's 10-8 win, but since their manager's frustration boiled over, the Tigers have enjoyed mostly positive developments on the field.
Minnesota's Phil Hughes took a shutout into the seventh but was lifted after allowing Miguel Cabrera's triple and Victor Martinez's sacrifice fly. The Twins needed three relievers to get the final two outs of the inning as Detroit broke through in a big way.
Kyle Ryan (1-1) got the win in relief, and Michael Tonkin (1-2) took the loss. Gene Lamont managed for Detroit in place of Ausmus.
Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano homered for Minnesota.
Hughes entered with a 6.44 ERA and tied for the big league lead in losses with sox, and he had allowed 11 runs over six innings in his previous two starts. He breezed into the seventh with a 2-0 lead, but after the Tigers scored a run, he was pulled after only 75 pitches.
Tonkin allowed hits to his first three hitters, then struck out James McCann for the second out. With the score tied at 2, Trevor May came on and allowed hits to all four hitters he faced, including the two-run single by Iglesias, a two-run homer by Kinsler and a solo shot by J.D. Martinez.
Detroit sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
Hughes allowed a run and three hits in 6 1/3 innings. Mike Pelfrey -- who left the Twins to sign with Detroit in the offseason -- yielded two runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Mauer opened the scoring with a solo homer in the fifth, and Sano added his the following inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: LHP Glen Perkins (left shoulder) is expected to throw to live hitters Thursday.
Tigers: RHP Shane Greene (right middle finger) threw a bullpen session Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Twins: Minnesota sends RHP Ricky Nolasco (1-1) to the mound for Wednesday's series finale.
Tigers: Detroit counters with RHP Justin Verlander (2-4). The Tigers will try for a three-game sweep -- they are 5-0 against Minnesota so far this season.
