Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - If Miguel Cabrera was going to break out of
his lengthy slump, odds were he was likely to do it against the Texas Rangers.
Mired in a 2-for-20 spell coming in, Cabrera smacked three hits, including a
two-run double as part of a five-run top of the first inning, to go with three
RBI and a run scored as the Detroit Tigers cruised to an 8-2 win over Texas in
the opener of a three-game series.
The 29-year-old is hitting a blistering .378 (74-for-196) with nine homers, 18
doubles and 50 RBI in 47 career games against Texas. His .378 average against
the Rangers is tops among all active major leaguers.
Rick Porcello (5-5) fanned seven and surrendered a run on six hits and three
walks over six innings for the Tigers, who have won six of their last nine.
Making his second career start, Justin Grimm (1-1) lasted one-plus inning,
allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk for Texas, which had prevailed in
eight of its previous nine coming in.
Adrian Beltre registered three hits, while Josh Hamilton clubbed his 23rd
homer of the year, a two-run shot in the seventh.
The Tigers stormed out of the gate with five runs on seven hits in the opening
frame. Austin Jackson began the game with a double and Quintin Berry's bunt
single put runners on the corners. They both scored when Cabrera whacked a
double over the head of Leonys Martin in center.
Cabrera came home two batters later on Delmon Young's single to center. After
Brennan Boesch grounded out, Jhonny Peralta ripped an RBI double to right and
Ramon Santiago lined a run-scoring single to center for a 5-0 Detroit
advantage.
Detroit added a run in each of the second, fifth and sixth innings.
Prince Fielder lifted a sacrifice fly in the second, Jhonny Peralta rolled
into an RBI groundout in the fifth and Cabrera laced and RBI double in the
sixth to push the margin to 8-0.
Texas finally got on the board in the seventh as Hamilton belted a two-
run homer into the seats in right-center.
GAME NOTES:
Texas was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 12 men on base
while Detroit was 6-for-12 with RISP and stranded seven...Berry stole his 12th
base of the season.
The Sports Network