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Cabrera, Tigers beat Texas for 6th straight win

May 21, 2009 - 9:09 PM DETROIT(AP) -- Once again, the Detroit Tigers found a way to spoil the Texas Rangers' trip to Comerica Park.

The Tigers stuck with Edwin Jackson, even after he'd allowed Texas to tie Thursday's game. The right-hander, with plenty of help from Miguel Cabrera, rewarded the club's faith.

Jackson worked out of further trouble and Cabrera hit a go-ahead single in the eighth inning to help the Tigers win their sixth straight game, 4-3 over the Rangers.

Curtis Granderson and Clete Thomas homered for Detroit, which completed its second sweep of Texas this season and has beaten the Rangers 11 times in a row at home.

The Rangers arrived in Detroit this week with a seven-game winning streak, but managed only seven runs in their three losses.

"We just got beat," manager Ron Washington said. "In the last two games, we were one hit away from the game being different.

"Today, we were one hit away from the game being different on three different occasions. We just couldn't get the knock," he said.

Fernando Rodney earned his eighth save in as many chances, getting Michael Young to ground into a game-ending double play with runners at first and third.

Jackson (4-2) won his third straight start, throwing a career-high 132 pitches in eight innings.

Manager Jim Leyland visited the mound before the Rangers tied the game, but said he had no intentions of pulling Jackson, even during the rocky eighth.

"He's a warrior," Leyland said. "I felt like he deserved to be out there."

Jackson was a strike away from escaping the inning with a 3-1 lead, but Nelson Cruz hit a two-run double. With runners at the corners, Jackson struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia to end the threat.

"It would've been easy to go to the 'pen," Jackson said of Leyland's decision to stick with him, "but I'm glad he had that confidence. It rubs off on a pitcher."

Jackson gave up seven hits, walked five and struck out seven. He has a 1.64 ERA and 21 strikeouts in his last three starts.

Kevin Millwood (4-4) took the complete-game loss, giving up six hits. He lost a complete game 2-0 to Kansas City's Zack Greinke earlier this year.

With the score 3-all, Millwood retired the first two batters in the eighth. Placido Polanco singled, Thomas walked on a full count and Cabrera singled.

David Murphy hit a solo homer in the Texas first. Thomas tied it in the bottom half with his first home run of the season.

The Rangers loaded the bases with one out in the second, but Elvis Andrus flied out to shallow right and Thomas made a perfect throw to catch Cruz at the plate.

Millwood walked the leadoff man in the third and gave up Granderson's 11th homer of the season a batter later.,

Notes: Detroit sent OF Wilkin Ramirez back to Triple-A Toledo after the game to make room for RF Magglio Ordonez (bereavement list), who will join the club for Friday's game against Colorado. ... Texas' five stolen bases were its most since Aug. 6, 2001. ... Rangers CF Josh Hamilton (groin) missed his third straight start but manager Ron Washington said he hoped to have the All-Star and closer Frank Francisco (shoulder) back when Texas plays Friday night in Houston. ... Leyland said OF Marcus Thames (rib cage strain) should begin a rehab assignment at Toledo next week.