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Young, Byrd pace Rangers past Tigers

Sep 16, 2008 - 4:57 AM By Jay Miller PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Marlon Byrd's two-run triple capped a four-run eighth-inning as the Texas Rangers downed the Detroit Tigers, 11-8, in a see-saw series opener on Monday night.

After Placido Polanco's run-scoring single in the top of the eighth broke a 7-7 tie, the Tigers unloaded on reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Rookie catcher Taylor Teagarden, who had hit a grand slam earlier in the game, tied the contest with an RBI double.

"I'm seeing the ball well," Teagarden said. "(Manager Ron Washington) is giving me a chance to get a lot of at-bats, sticking me in the 9-hole where I can see a lot of pitches. I'm just trying to take advantage of it."

Two batters later, Michael Young ripped a line-drive single to right field to plate the go-ahead run.

Farnsworth intentionally walked MVP candidate Josh Hamilton, but Byrd answered the call with a deep triple to the right-center field gap to give the Rangers a three-run cushion.

"It's a downer for you, obviously. Everybody's trying to do their job, but over the course of the year we've let way too many leads get away," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That's a killer for your team."

Frank Francisco (3-5) went 1 1/3 innings without giving up a run to earn the victory. Farnsworth (2-3) gave up four runs, four hits and three walks in two-thirds of an inning to take the loss.

The contest was highlighted by Teagarden's first career grand slam that put the Rangers up 7-5 before the Tigers clawed their way back against Texas' bullpen.

Teagarden, a member of the 2008 U.S Olympic Team before being called up for his second stint with the Rangers this season, made his sixth home run of the season a memorable one as he cleared the bases off Tigers reliever Gary Glover. Teagarden's five homers in his first nine games prior to Monday's contest tied him with five other players in major league history for the most home runs in that span.

"I think it's great for his confidence especially when he comes with a tag that he's not supposed to be an offensive player," Washington said. "Things can change when you get in the majors because the pitches are around the plate."

Dontrelle Willis, the 2003 National League Rookie of the Year with the Florida Marlins and a Cy Young runner-up two years ago, left the game with a 4-3 lead and was in position to pick up his first win of the season.

"I'm happy about it," Willis said of his first career start in Arlington. "I didn't really know if I was going to pitch in the big leagues again this year."

Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy (1-1, 4.22) made an early exit in the top of the first with a strained finger on his right hand. McCarthy said he'll be re-evaluated tomorrow and undergo an MRI if necessary.

"This one is pretty damn frustrating," McCarthy said. "We put a lot of work in the last 8-9 days, for this to happen that early. It's just a freak thing."

The Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead off reliever Luis Mendoza with a pair of doubles in the second by Matt Joyce and Jeff Larish. Meanwhile, Willis held the Rangers' offense at bay through the first three innings.

Sheffield extended the Tigers' lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth frame by slamming his 17th home run of the season - a three-run shot which scored Miguel Cabrera and Joyce.

The Rangers clawed back with three of their own in the bottom of the third. Nelson Cruz and Max Ramirez set the stage with one-out walks before Travis Metcalf drove them home with his fifth homer of the season to pull the Rangers to within 4-3.

The Tigers padded their lead in the top of the sixth after a one-out single by Cabrera and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Larish, who drove in his second run on a fielder's choice.

The Rangers loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth when Hank Blalock singled and Max Ramirez was hit by Glover's pitch, a disputed call that resulted in Leyland being ejected from the game by home plate umpire Eric Cooper. Travis Metcalf walked to load the bases for Teagarden, whose 412-foot shot to center field gave the Rangers a 7-5 lead.

Detroit knotted the score in the seventh on back-to-back RBI singles by Magglio Ordonez and Cabrera, then re-took the lead in the top of the eighth when Santiago walked and stole second before being singled home by Polanco.