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Upton’s 4 hits, long homer lead Tigers over Pirates 8-2

Posted at 5:03 PM, Apr 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-12 17:04:19-04

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Upton had four hits, including a first-inning home run off a camera well above center field, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-2 Tuesday.

Upton entered batting .227 with 10 strikeouts in 22 at-bats, then raised his average to .333 with the 11th game of four hits or more in his big league career. According to MLB’s Statcast system, the home run would have gone 451 feet had it landed unimpeded.

J.D. Martinez had his second career four-hit game, and Ian Kinsler homered.

Anibal Sanchez (2-0) gave up two runs, four hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, improving to 3-5 in eight starts against the Pirates.