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Tigers Lose Ninth Straight, Swept by the Marlins

DETROIT (AP) - A day after hitting his first major league home run, Garrett Cooper connected again.

In grand fashion, too.

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Garrett Cooper #26 of the Miami Marlins, right, celebrates his grand slam against the Detroit Tigers with Rosell Herrera #5 and Miguel Rojas #19 during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Marlins defeated the Tigers 5-2. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Cooper hit a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning and the Miami Marlins won their sixth in a row, rallying past Detroit 5-2 Thursday to finish a terrible homestand for the Tigers.

Cooper jumped up and down up the first base line as his ball sailed into the left-field seats.

"Probably one of the better feelings, I think I pimped it a little bit," Cooper said. "As soon as I got it off the bat, I knew I got it pretty good."

The Marlins, who had the worst record in the majors last week, extended the longest active winning streak in the big leagues.

The Tigers wrapped up an 0-9 stay at Comerica Park against Houston, Oakland, and the Marlins. That record doesn't include a suspended game in which Detroit trails Oakland in the late innings.

Cooper homered off Shane Greene (0-2), who had been 15 for 15 on save chances this season.

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Closer Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers at the mound after giving up a grand slam to Garrett Cooper of the Miami Marlins during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Marlins defeated the Tigers 5-2. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

"I just got to pitch better," Greene said. "It's my job to close the door there and I couldn't do it."

Instead, Cooper homered on an 0-1 pitch.

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Manager Ron Gardenhire #15 of the Detroit Tigers chats with starting pitcher Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers before removing him from the game during the seventh inning at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Marlins defeated the Tigers 5-2 on a ninth inning grand slam. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

"As I walked in and told those guys, this is really hard," Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We have to stick together, we have to have each other's backs. There are kids in there that are really upset. They know how the game went, they know what happened. We have to have their backs and I have their backs."

The mistakes were made by third baseman Dawel Lugo and second baseman Ronny Rodriguez, who made their debuts last season and have 124 big league games between them.

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Harold Ramirez #47 of the Miami Marlins scores against the Detroit Tigers on a single by Neil Walker during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Marlins defeated the Tigers 5-2. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

It was 2-0 when Harold Ramirez opened the inning with a grounder that Lugo misplayed for an error. Ramirez scored on Neil Walker's single.

Greene later induced a double-play ball to Rodriguez that would've ended the game. But Rodriguez bobbled it and Miguel Rojas was called safe at first, which was held up on replay.

"The only person I'm pointing the finger at today is myself," Greene said. "I just got to make a pitch and pick up the team there and I couldn't do it."

After an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Curtis Granderson loaded the bases, Cooper took Greene deep.

On Wednesday, Cooper hit a home run in the sixth inning to spark a 6-3 comeback win in his 39th career game.

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Garrett Cooper #26 of the Miami Marlins swings on his grand slam against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. The Marlins defeated the Tigers 5-2. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

"It's been an up-and-down roller coaster this past year and a half," he said. "Just to play every day, that's what I've been doing my whole life and doing in the minor leagues."

Miami finished off its second straight sweep, having beaten the New York Mets last weekend.

"The club is gaining a little confidence, but it goes back to our starting pitching giving us a chance," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

Marlins starter Trevor Richards struck out six over 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight hits and one run.

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Trevor Richards #36 of the Miami Marlins pitches against the Detroit Tigers during the second inning at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Tyler Kinley (1-0) gave up one run in the eighth and got the win. Sergio Romo earned his ninth save with a perfect ninth.

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Miami Marlins during the second inning at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

For Detroit, right-hander Matthew Boyd threw six scoreless innings and Miguel Cabrera continued moving up the all-time lists.

Cabrera had an RBI single in the eighth. It was his second hit of the game and moved Cabrera into 60th place on baseball's career hit list with 2,727, one more than Chipper Jones.

With the bases loaded in the sixth inning, Rodriguez hit a flyball to left field. Austin Dean made a sliding catch on the sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

MIGGY MILESTONE

Miami Marlins v Detroit Tigers
DETROIT, MI - MAY 23: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers rallies his teammates during the seventh inning of a game against the Miami Marlins at Comerica Park on May 23, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

Cabrera went into the game tied with Carlos Beltran for 61st on the hits list.

STREAKY STRETCH

After beating the Chicago Cubs 6-5 on May 6, the Marlins dropped three straight at Wrigley Field to open a seven-game losing streak, which included two-game sweeps against the New York Mets and Tampa Bay. Then, Miami swept the Mets and Tigers, taking three in Detroit by a combined six runs.

"Just as bad as it looks one day, it looks great six days later," Mattingly said. "Stay humble, keep working and just try to ride this as long as we can."

UP NEXT

Marlins: Coming off the best start of his career, RHP Pablo Lopez (3-5, 5.06 ERA) will start Friday at Washington and RHP Kyle McGowin (0-0, 6.00).

Tigers: Rookie LHP Gregory Soto (0-2, 10.80) opens a three-game series and nine-game road trip Friday at the Mets, who are throwing RHP Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 4.50).

© 2019 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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