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Tigers' Cabrera continues to mash Rangers

Jun 26, 2012 - 5:08 AM 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 the Rangers in their first visit to Texas since the ALCS 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.

"It's a humbling game. What can you do? You just bounce back for the next one," Grimm said about his outing.

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.

"Things happen fast, particularly in this ballpark as you saw. Look how fast we got five," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "With that team over there, you're not very comfortable until the final out is made."

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.