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Kinsler has 4 RBIs, Martinez homers as Tigers top Marlins

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) - Ian Kinsler drove in four runs from the leadoff spot and J.D. Martinez homered to lead the Detroit Tigers past the Miami Marlins 9-2 on Sunday.

Steven Moya also went deep and Matt Boyd tossed three shutout innings for the Tigers. Top pitching prospect Michael Fulmer had a strong outing as well, throwing two scoreless innings.

Martinez, who was off to a slow start this spring, also singled to raise his batting average to .182. The slugging outfielder batted .282 with 38 homers and 102 RBIs last season.

Fulmer, acquired from the New York Mets in the trade for Yoenis Cespedes last summer, struck out three. He's given up two hits in five shutout innings this spring.

Justin Bour had two hits for Miami, including a double.

Kinsler, entering his third season with the Tigers, has seen his power numbers tumble since his move from the Texas Rangers to cavernous Comerica Park in Detroit. He homered 11 times last season, his lowest output since 2010.

But he's off to a strong start this spring as the powerful Tigers try to find the right place for him in the lineup. It was a given last season that Kinsler would be the No. 2 batter, but he's been juggled this spring and hit leadoff on Sunday.

Kinsler boosted his spring batting average to .300 with a bases-loaded double. He said he is finally getting comfortable in Detroit.

"I did a lot of work during the offseason," Kinsler said. "I was ready for spring training this year. It's always a process, but I was ready. We are swinging well and we have a lot of time to get better."

Kinsler and the Tigers went 74-87 last year, finishing last in the AL Central after four straight division titles. Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said he thinks Kinsler is poised for a big season in 2016 even though he isn't making any projections yet about his opening day lineup.

STARTING TIME

Marlins: Non-roster RHP Dylan Axelrod went 1 2-3 innings and yielded three earned runs while walking three in his second appearance of the spring.

Tigers: Boyd allowed two hits and struck out one in his second start of the spring. The left-hander was a combined 1-6 with the Blue Jays and Tigers last season.

UP NEXT

Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez starts Monday against the Washington Nationals.

Tigers: RHP Mike Pelfrey makes his second start of the spring. This one comes in Port St. Lucie against his original team, the New York Mets.

Detroit Tigers' Casey McGehee (31) congratulates teammate J.D. Martinez on his home run against the Miami Marlins in the fifth inning a spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Miami Marlins' Xavier Scruggs, left, scores a run as he slides home past Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann, waiting for the throw during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Miami Marlins' Justin Bour slides back to first base after an infield line drive was caught in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Detroit Tigers' Ian Kinsler hits a double with bases loaded to drive in three runs against the Miami Marlins in the second inning of a spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Detroit Tigers' Matt Boyd pitches against the Miami Marlins in a spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Dylan Axelrod throws in the first inning in a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Fans watch a spring training baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the Miami Marlins, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus, left, and Miami Marlins manager Don Mattingly talk on the field before a spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander, left, signs autographs for fans before a spring training baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann, left, goes after a foul ball in the Miami Marlins dugout but is unable to make the catch during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
Miami Marlins' Cole Gillespie (28) steals second base in the third inning as the throw from the catcher sails over the head of Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler, left, in a spring training baseball game, Sunday, March 6, 2016, in Lakeland, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) The Associated Press
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