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Tigers start set in San Diego

Apr 11, 2014 - 1:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Detroit Tigers try to stay on the winning track on Friday when they open a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.

Detroit snapped a two-game losing streak on Wednesday, as Victor Martinez homered in the top of the 10th inning to help the Tigers split a two-game series with a 7-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tigers closer Joe Nathan (2-0) blew a three-run ninth inning lead, but managed to get the win thanks to Martinez's heroics which helped Detroit improve to 5-2 on the young season.

"The results obviously (stunk)," Nathan said, "but I felt like I got better tonight, to be honest with you."

Martinez finished 3-for-3 with two RBI, while Nick Castellanos hit his first career home run and drove in three. Ian Kinsler also went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and Austin Jackson added an RBI as well in the win.

"If we had lost that game," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said, "that would've stung a little bit after we had a three-run lead. But we're fortunate after Vic's homer to get out of there with a victory."

Getting the call for the Tigers on Friday will be righty Rick Porcello, who will try to follow up a strong start to his season. Porcello opened his campaign by beating the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, as he held them to a run and three hits over 6 2/3 innings.

Porcello, who has never faced the Padres, may also help the Tigers at the plate, where he is 4-for-17 with a pair of RBI. He also won three interleague games a year ago.

San Diego, meanwhile, will counter with righty Andrew Cashner, who is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA. Cashner was charged with the loss on Saturday in Miami, despite a solid effort that saw him allow two runs and five hits in six innings.

Cashner did not get a decision in his only other start against the Tigers, but yielded a run in six innings of that one.

San Diego returns home on Friday after going 2-4 on a six-game road trip. The Padres closed the trek by splitting a doubleheader with the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday. They dropped the opening game, 1-0, before stealing the second game, 2-1.

With the second game tied at 1-1, San Diego struck in the top of the sixth to score the decisive run. Everth Cabrera led off with a single before Smith was hit by a pitch and Yonder Alonso walked to load the bases. Chase Headley then singled to left, but only Cabrera was able to score on the one-out hit.

"It was great for it to fall in," Headley said of his run-scoring base hit. "We needed it as a team. I needed it personally."

San Diego hasn't played Detroit since the Tigers took two of three back in 2008. The Tigers have also won seven of the nine meetings.