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Minus Hamilton, Rangers conclude set with Tigers

Apr 13, 2011 - 2:34 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers are off to one of their best starts in franchise history thanks in large part to their offense. That vaunted attack, though, will be put to the test over the next two months, as it will be without the American League's reigning MVP Josh Hamilton.

Today, the Rangers try to capture their fourth straight series to start the season when they conclude a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

However, they will do so without Hamilton, who left Tuesday's contest with a small fracture of the humerus bone below his right shoulder. General manager Jon Daniels mentioned that it would be about four weeks before Hamilton can even swing a bat.

Hamilton, who was serving as the designated hitter, was injured in the first inning. After driving in a run with a triple, Adrian Beltre popped out in front of the Tigers dugout in foul territory. As catcher Victor Martinez and third baseman Brandon Inge went for the ball, Hamilton sprinted for the vacated plate.

Inge made the grab and threw to Martinez, who hustled back to put the tag on Hamilton as he slid headfirst. He was favoring the shoulder as he returned to the dugout and was removed from the game.

"Definitely shouldn't have done it there," Hamilton said about his attempt to score. "That was a little too aggressive."

The Tigers sent the Rangers to just their second loss of the season on Tuesday, as Miguel Cabrera's single with two outs and the bases loaded in the ninth inning lifted Detroit to a 5-4 win. Cabrera also doubled and Ryan Raburn went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk for the Tigers, who snapped a three-game slide.

"He's a good hitter. He's a good player. He had a great at-bat there," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said about Cabrera. "That's the guy we wanted up there obviously and he came through like he does a lot of times."

Michael Young went 3-for-3 with an RBI and scored twice for the Rangers, who are still off to their best start since opening 10-1 in 1989. With a win today the Rangers can win their fourth straight series to start the season, a feat they haven't accomplished since 1993.

Heading to the hill for the Tigers this afternoon will be right-hander Max Scherzer, who will be trying for his third win of the season. After allowing six runs in five innings in his season debut, Scherzer was much better his last time out against the Kansas City Royals, who managed just a run in six innings.

Scherzer is a perfect 2-0 in three starts against the Rangers, while pitching to a 2.25 ERA.

Texas, meanwhile, will counter with right-hander Dave Bush, who will be getting an emergency start this afternoon thanks to the team's doubleheader in Baltimore over the weekend.

Bush spent the last five years with the Milwaukee Brewers, but made the Rangers roster as a long reliever. This will be his first appearance with the Rangers.

Bush has struggled in his career against the Tigers, posting an 0-2 mark to go along with a 11.37 ERA in four games (three starts).

Texas took six of nine from the Tigers last season.