Al Melchior, Nando Di Fino chat replay (7/12)
Miguel Cabrera swats three homers in losing effort
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Cabrera unleashed a three-run home run in the third, a solo shot in the fifth and another solo home run in the eighth inning. He became the 23rd player in major-league history to finish 4 for 4 with three home runs, five RBI and four runs scored. However, he became the first player to do it in a losing cause as the Tigers fell to the Rangers 11-8.
Cabrera hit .304 with eight homers and 34 RBI through 42 games during his triple crown season in 2012. He is hitting .387 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI through 42 games this season.
Joe Nathan closes out Tigers
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Nathan, who entered the game in the ninth inning with a three-run lead, worked his way around a leadoff walk as he retired the next three batters to secure an 11-8 victory. He struck out one and improved his ERA to 2.12 after converting his 13th save in as many chances.
Prince Fielder collects three RBI vs. Rangers
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
"It's definitely not going to hurt," Fielder said. "That's what I'm trying to do, just trying to hit the ball hard. That's the goal, to hit the ball hard and see what happens."
Fielder is hitting .209 (9 for 43) with five RBI in his last 12 games. He is hitting .242 with two homers and 10 RBI in 17 May games.
David Murphy homers while hitting second
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Murphy launched a three-run home run in the fifth inning that gave the Rangers a one-run lead. He finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and four RBI in an 11-8 victory.
"I'm going to try to keep [Murphy] there so he doesn't have to wait around to get at-bats and he can be involved in the game right away," Washington told MLB.com before the game. "Maybe that'll start getting him going."
Murphy, who did not hit second at all last season, is hitting .215 with five homers and 16 RBI.
Omar Infante with two hits at leadoff spot
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
"When you lead him off, you're leading him off because he's your only guy in that situation," manager Jim Leyland told MLB.com. "Normally I wouldn't have him leading off but, with the situation we're in, if you look at the lineup, who else would you lead off? ... The only other guy you'd think about is [Avisail] Garcia and I don't want to do that."
Infante finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored in an 11-8 defeat. He is hitting .313 with three home runs and 14 RBI in 144 at-bats.
Derek Holland hit hard in no-decision
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Holland, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a three-run home run to Miguel Cabrera in the third and a solo home run to Cabrera again in the fifth for his only damage of the night. The left-hander was charged with four runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out six and walked three.
Holland has allowed four runs or more three of his last five starts. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at Seattle. He has not allowed a run in his last 16 2/3 innings pitched at Safeco Field.
Doug Fister settles for no-decision
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Fister, who made his ninth start of the season, surrendered a sacrifice fly in the second and four runs in the fourth, including a two-run double to Adrian Beltre. The right-hander was charged with five runs and nine hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. He struck out three and walked one.
Fister has allowed 10 runs -- nine earned -- over his last 7 2/3 innings of work away from home. He is scheduled to make his next start Saturday at home against the Twins. He went 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four starts against Minnesota last season.
Dustin Pedroia swinging a hot bat
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Pedroia launched a two-run home run in the ninth inning to pad the lead for the Red Sox. He also drove in a run on a fielder's choice and finished 2 for 5 with two runs scored and three RBI in a 5-1 victory.
Pedroia has reached base safely in his last 14 games. He is hitting .446 (25 for 56) with two homers and nine RBI over that span. He has a .343/.432/.442 slash line 172 at-bats.
Will Venable launches sixth home run
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Venable uncorked a solo home run in the fifth off starter Dan Haren and doubled in a run in the seventh. He finished 2 for 5 with a run scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory.
Venable is hitting .217 (5 for 23) with two doubles, a home run and three RBI in his last five games played. He has a .237/.308/.441 in 118 at-bats.
Everth Cabrera steals two more bases
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Cabrera singled in the first and the seventh. He stole two bases and finished 2 for 6 with two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-4 victory. He leads the majors with 17 stolen bags.
Cabrera has a .257/.342/.351 slash line with two homers and 15 RBI in 171 at-bats.
