Cubs’ Jason Hammel welcomes Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers to Wrigley

The Cubs have scored at least five runs in nine of their last 12 games, after doing so just 10 times over their previous 37 games. Then J.D. Martinez drove in the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield and two batters later, after Cubs manager Joe Maddon elected to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Victor Martinez with first base occupied to load the bases, Nick Castellanos blooped a base hit into rightfield to score two.

Detroit Tigers’ Ian Kinsler rounds third after hitting a home run…

Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, right, scores past Chicago Cubs…

For the seventh consecutive start, Cubs starter Jason Hammel failed to work into the seventh inning. Anibal Sanchez gave up his major league-leading 29th home run, a two-run shot off the bat of Chris Coghlan in the first inning. The Cubs are 4-1 in their last 5 during game 2 of a series and 4-1 in Lesters last 5 starts. After going 7-0 over an eight-start stretch, the right-hander is 0-3 with a 6.94 ERA in his last four outings. And now Detroit has to face one of the hottest clubs in the majors, a Cub’s team that is in the driver’s seat for the second National League wild card spot after a 15-and-2 run.

Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run home run off Buck Farmer in the fifth inning to cut Detroit’s lead to one.