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Millwood brilliant, Metcalf homers twice as Rangers pound Tigers

Aug 21, 2008 - 4:22 AM By John Tranchina PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- The Texas Rangers' offense, which had been so potent for most of this season, finally awoke from a two-week slumber.

After managing to score four runs or more in three of their previous 13 outings, the Rangers erupted for six home runs and pounded the Detroit Tigers, 9-1, on Wednesday.

Travis Metcalf hit two of the Rangers' six home runs and Josh Hamilton fell a double short of the cycle to lead the outburst.

"The thing about offense is it comes and it goes, and I think pitching has a lot to do with offense," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "But we never gave up on ourselves as far as swinging the bat goes and putting runs on the board. Those guys work every day and I'm just so happy they were able to pull it together tonight, and maybe we can get back on track."

Meanwhile, Kevin Millwood, who was 0-3 with a no-decision in his previous four starts and had not won since July 6, went the distance.

Texas jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning, scoring a pair of unearned runs off Detroit starter Nate Robertson. Marlon Byrd led off with a high pop-up that shortstop Edgar Renteria dropped, leaving Byrd at second. Two outs later, Metcalf launched his third home run into the seats in left field.

The Rangers added three more in the third, as Brandon Boggs and Michael Young hit back-to-back home runs. Chris Davis added an RBI groundout, scoring Milton Bradley to make the score 5-0.

"It always helps having an early lead," Millwood said. "It doesn't make the game any easier, but it definitely makes you a little more comfortable out there and that's what it felt like pretty early in the game."

Detroit had won three of its previous four and all five prior meetings with Texas, but was unable to solve Millwood (7-7). The righthander gave up one run and six hits in his second complete game of the year.

"I think he did a good job of minimizing his pitch count," Washington said. "In the middle part of the game, he had some real low pitch-count innings, and his fastball had some finish on it the whole night. His slider, he kept down and in on lefthanders and they couldn't get to it. He pitched extremely well."

Millwood allowed a leadoff double to Ramon Santiago in the fourth and Miguel Cabrera drilled a one-out RBI double off the base of the center field wall for Detroit's only run.

The Rangers answered back with three more in the bottom of the inning. After a run scored on a double-play groundout by Young, Hamilton smacked his 29th home run and Bradley followed with his 21st. It was the third time this year that Hamilton and Bradley combined for back-to-back home runs.

Five of Texas' home runs came in the first four innings off Robertson (7-10), who became the first major leaguer in over two years to allow five long balls in a game. Texas had built up an 8-1 lead by the time Robertson exited after 3 2/3 innings.

The lefthander carried a 7.59 road ERA into the outing, highest in the American League. That figure went up as Robertson surrendered eight runs - six earned - and eight hits while walking four.

"My slider was awful. It's been very inconsistent all year long," Robertson said. "It was a pitch I could always have success with, but it's not doing much. It spins up there, stays up over the plate, and it gets whacked. Three of the home runs I gave up tonight were on that pitch. It's frustrating because I know I've been successful with it."

"Pitches over the middle of the plate, belt high, they lead to extra-base hits," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "It's all about starting pitching and tonight our starter had a tough outing."

Texas tacked on another run in the seventh on Metcalf's second home run, a solo shot to right. It was his first career multi-homer game.

"It's big. I'd have taken two hits. It's kind of icing on the cake for it to be a home run or for the ball to go out," said Metcalf, who was recalled from Class AAA Oklahoma on August 1. "It's finally nice to get a multi-hit game and (be) feeling a lot more comfortable at the plate. When I get the opportunity to play, I have to go out and produce or else I won't be here."

Texas, which leads the major leagues in runs scored, won for the second time in nine games. After climbing to within five games of the American League wild card lead, the Rangers have gone 3-11.