Tigers slug their way past Dodgers for 14-5 win

DETROIT (AP) Justin Verlander had no way of knowing what Detroit's offense was about to do, so when he gave up five runs in the first inning, his goal was simply to prevent more scoring and hope for the best.

''That first inning's tough, but as a starting pitcher, you have to have the ability to turn the page,'' Verlander said. ''It's a nice feeling when you're able to go out there and keep your team in the game, when at other times, maybe when I was younger, it turns into a two-inning or three-inning and eight-run affair.''

Verlander settled down after his terrible first inning, and the Tigers rallied in emphatic fashion for a 14-5 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. The Dodgers managed only one hit off Verlander after the first, and Detroit quickly tied it with five runs in the second.

The Tigers added two runs in the third and four in the fourth to pull away. Miguel Cabrera was one of five Detroit players with three hits.

Verlander (8-7) allowed five runs and five hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.

Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-5) allowed seven runs and 10 hits in 2 1-3 innings.

''I felt like I really let my team down,'' Ryu said through a translator. ''We had five runs in the first inning off a great pitcher, and I gave the lead away. That's the worst part of tonight.''

Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers in the first, but Verlander retired 13 in a row after that.

The Tigers' 14 runs set a season high, as did their 20 hits.

Detroit managed its offensive outburst without a single homer, but broke through for eight hits in the second against Ryu. Torii Hunter led off with a double - he was initially ruled out at second after a nice throw from right fielder Yasiel Puig, but the call was overturned on replay.

''That's how replay has changed the game,'' Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. ''It probably changes the entire inning, really. They have one out and nobody on as opposed to a runner on second, no outs.''

Nick Castellanos, Alex Avila, Eugenio Suarez and Rajai Davis followed with consecutive singles, and Avila scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3. Ian Kinsler added an RBI single with one out, and Cabrera followed with one of his own to tie it.

''It shows what we're capable of,'' Avila said. ''It's a good team win as far as being able to come back, and Justin going out there and throwing up zeros after the first inning. That was a very good win for us.''

Davis hit an RBI single in the third to chase Ryu, and Austin Jackson followed with a sacrifice fly for a 7-5 lead.

What once looked like a Los Angeles rout turned into a blowout for Detroit in the fourth, when the first six Tigers reached base against reliever Jamey Wright.

Castellanos singled home a run, and a bases-loaded walk by Avila forced in another. Suarez's RBI single made it 10-5.

Davis added a sacrifice fly, and in the fifth, J.D. Martinez tripled and scored on Hunter's single.

Detroit scored two more runs in the seventh. Cabrera hit an RBI triple, reaching third when Puig's throw from the wall in right-center sailed over two cutoff men. Hunter drove Cabrera home with a single.

Verlander's ERA increased to 4.84, but he won his 12th straight regular-season decision against a National League team. Martinez, Hunter, Castellanos and Davis also had three hits apiece for the Tigers.

Los Angeles opened the scoring on a two-run double by Adrian Gonzalez, and Matt Kemp added an RBI single to make it 3-0. Uribe's homer was his fifth of the year.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly was ejected in the sixth.

NOTES: Kemp had three hits for the Dodgers. ... The Tigers were without DH Victor Martinez, who is dealing with a back issue. ... Andre Ethier hit into a rare 7-5 forceout in the sixth when his blooper to left dropped barely in front of Davis. The runners at first and second couldn't be sure if Davis would catch it or not. ... Detroit announced agreements with three draft picks: RHP Adam Ravenelle, RHP Artie Lewicki and RHP Whit Mayberry. ... Detroit RHP Max Scherzer (10-3) faces Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke (11-4) on Wednesday.