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Avila, Porcello lift Tigers over Rockies

Aug 3, 2014 - 5:24 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex Avila finished with three hits, two RBI and two runs scored and Rick Porcello pitched eight strong innings as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Colorado Rockies, 11-5.

Porcello (13-5) only allowed two runs on five hits and struck out a season- high 10 batters, joining teammate Max Scherzer as the lone 13-game winners in the American League.

"I had a good feel for the off-speed stuff today," Porcello said. "When I can get those pitches going and keep them down in the zone, I can get some strikeouts."

Victor Martinez hit a three-run home run, while J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera each added solo homers for the Tigers, who have taken the first two games of this three-game set.

Tyler Matzek (2-6) was lit up for eight runs on 10 hits in just four-plus innings of work as the Rockies lost for the sixth time in their last seven games.

"I was just up in the zone a little bit," Matzek said. "I was hitting the side alright, in and out, but I was leaving it up a little bit and they were getting to it."

The Tigers wasted no time getting on the board. Rajai Davis hit a double to open the bottom of the first and Ian Kinsler followed with a single, putting runners on the corners. Cabrera grounded into a double play, but Davis managed to score on the play.

The Rockies took the lead with two runs in the second. Drew Stubbs doubled on a ground ball to left that scored Justin Morneau and Charlie Culberson plated Stubbs with a ground out.

The Tigers responded with one run in the home half to tie the game. Avila hit a ground ball off the glove of first baseman Wilin Rosario that found its way into right field, scoring J.D. Martinez.

Cabrera's solo shot to center put the Tigers up 3-2 in the third.

After Nick Castellanos hit a two-out triple to center, Avila lined one to left for an RBI double. Eugenio Suarez was up next and sent a ground ball up the middle to score Avila, extending the Tigers' lead to three runs.

The Tigers added three more runs in the fifth. Kinsler started the inning with a single, but reached third on the play because of a throwing error by Matzek. The Rockies intentionally walked Cabrera only to have Victor Martinez smack one over the wall in left field.

Detroit scored again in the sixth on an RBI single by Kinsler, and J.D. Martinez's two-out homer in the seventh gave the Tigers 10 runs on the day.

Avila opened the eighth with a double, moved over to third on a ground out by Suarez and scored on a single by Davis.

The Rockies scored two off of Pat McCoy in the ninth, then loaded the bases on Phil Coke, who replaced him. The lefty struck out Culberson, but Charlie Blackmon knocked one in with a ground out. Josh Rutledge came to the plate with runners on second and third, but Coke struck him out to end the game.

Game Notes

McCoy was charged with three runs on three hits and a walk for his appearance in the ninth. Coke struck out two, but allowed an inherited run to score ... Detroit was 7-for-10 with runners in scoring position, while Colorado was just 2-for-12. The Tigers outhit the Rockies 16-8 ... The Tigers scored a run in every inning that they batted for the first time since 1912 ... Victor Martinez's homer in the fifth was his first since July 3 ... Avila threw out Rutledge trying to steal second in the top of the third inning. His 28 runners caught stealing leads the MLB.