Miguel Cabrera ruptured his left biceps tendon Tuesday night, an injury that will sideline the Detroit slugger for the rest of the season, and the Tigers lost 6-4 to the Minnesota Twins.
The two-time AL MVP will have surgery this week, the Tigers said. Cabrera, playing his 12th game since missing 26 with a hamstring strain, exited in the third inning and underwent an MRI during the game.
Cabrera missed three games earlier this season with spasms in his left biceps.
Ehire Adrianza hit his first career grand slam to help Minnesota rally.
The Twins trailed 2-1 going into the seventh inning, but Tigers starter Blaine Hardy left after allowing a leadoff single to Eduardo Escobar.
Louis Coleman (3-1) only threw nine strikes in a 23-pitch outing, walking two batters to load the bases with two outs. Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire brought in Warwick Saupold, who went to a 3-1 count on Adrianza before throwing a fastball that ended up in the right-field stands.
The Tigers made it 5-4 with two runs in the seventh. With runners on second and third with two outs, JaCoby Jones beat out an infield single and Escobar’s throw sailed past first baseman Logan Morrison for Minnesota’s second throwing error of the inning.
Miguel Sano gave the Twins a 6-4 lead with an RBI single in the eighth.
Ryan Pressly (1-1) got the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 14th save.
Hardy pitched six-plus innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk. Hardy, who replaced Jordan Zimmermann in the rotation, is expected to make at least one more start before Zimmermann and Francisco Liriano return from the disabled list.
Jake Odorizzi started for Minnesota, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks in five innings. He struck out four while throwing 102 pitches.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead by manufacturing a run in the third. With one out, Adrianza reached on an infield single, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ryan LaMarre’s sacrifice fly.
Jose Iglesias tied the game with a one-out RBI triple in the fourth and scored on Leonys Martin’s sacrifice fly.
STAYING IN SHAPE
While on third base after his fourth-inning triple, Iglesias had to dive to the ground to avoid being hit by teammate Dixon Machado’s line drive. He broke his fall with his hands and snapped off three quick push-ups before jumping back to his feet.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Twins: Minnesota signed RHP Matt Belisle to a major league contract and he joined the team in Detroit. To make room for him, the Twins designated INF Gregorio Petit for assignment.
Tigers: C James McCann (flu) missed his second straight game, but was available to pinch hit. The Tigers recalled C Grayson Greiner from Triple-A Toledo to back up John Hicks until McCann recovers.
