MIAMI -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia homered and drove in four runs and Francisco Rodriguez struck out Giancarlo Stanton to end the game with the bases loaded as the Detroit Tigers beat Miami 7-3 Wednesday and sent Marlins ace Jose Fernandez his first loss in 27 career starts at home.
Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer and Nick Castellanos had an RBI double in the sixth that chased Fernandez (0-1), who allowed five runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and 13 strikeouts, one shy of his big league high. Fernandez had been 17-0 with a 1.40 ERA at Marlins Park, the most consecutive home wins to start a career in major league history.
Anibal Sanchez (1-0) allowed two runs and four hits in five innings for Detroit, which completed an opening two-game sweep.
Following a series of injuries, Stanton and Fernandez were in the lineup together for the first time since May 9, 2014, at San Diego. Stanton went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Dee Gordon had three hits and was 6 for 11 in the series.
Saltalamacchia, Fernandez's former batterymate with Miami in 2014, put the Tigers ahead with a two-run homer in the second. After Castellanos' double, Saltamacchia hit a two-run double off Dustin McGowan for a 5-0 lead.
Martinez's second pinch homer in as many games boosted the lead to 7-2 in the eighth.
Pinch-hitter Derek Dietrich had an RBI single against Logan Kensing in the bottom half. Rodriguez came in with two on and two outs, walked Christian Yelich then struck out Stanton on a 1-2 curveball for his first save.
BACK HOME
Five of the Tigers starters have ties to Miami, including ex-Marlins Jarrod Saltalamacchia, RHP Anibal Sanchez and 1B Miguel Cabrera. Also on that list are RF J.D. Martinez and 3B Nick Castellanos, who went to high school in south Florida.
MANAGERIAL CONNECTION
Marlins manager Don Mattingly was the hitting coach of current Tigers manager Brad Ausmus with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2009.
"If you ask him he'll tell you it was the greatest coaching of his career, getting me to hit .300," said Ausmus, who hit a career-best .295. "At that point in my career I was kind of a finished product, and by finished I mean like almost done."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Marlins: LHP Wei-Yin Chen, who was hit above his left elbow on Tuesday on a liner by Anthony Gose, is expected to make his next scheduled . RHP Tyler Kolek, Miami's top prospect, may need elbow surgery. An announcement is expected this weekend.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Detroit plays its home opener on Friday against the New York Yankees. RHP Jordan Zimmerman is to start for Detroit against RHP Luis Severino.
Marlins: Miami starts a six-game trip Thursday at Washington, starting LHP Adam Conley against RHP Tanner Roark.
