The Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers have been going in opposite directions over the last week. After falling out of first place in the American League Central, the Tigers have won six straight to open up a four game lead in the division. Meanwhile, the Rangers, who sat at the .500 mark 10 days ago, have dropped seven in a row.
The two teams are in the midst of a three-game series. After taking the opener 8-2 on Tuesday, Detroit won Wednesday’s contest by a score of 8-6.
The Tigers attacked early, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. After Rajai Davis led the game off with a triple and Ian Kinsler walked, Miguel Cabrera drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly to right. Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez followed with back-to-back RBI doubles.
Detroit built its lead up to 5-0 with two more runs in the third. Cabrera smacked an RBI double to right and came around to score on a single by Torii Hunter.
The Rangers finally got on the board in the fourth, when they rallied to produce three runs. Adrian Beltre doubled to drive in Shin-Soo Choo. After Matt Choice reached on an error to bring in another run, Robinson Chirinos singled to center to bring in the third run.
The Tigers answered immediately, with back-to-back solo home runs by the two Martinezes in the top of the fifth.
Texas’ Carlos Pena belted a home run to right in the sixth, making the score 7-4. The following inning, Alex Rios pulled the Rangers within two with a sacrifice fly.
The Tigers then added an insurance run in the eight on a double by Eugenio Suarez. The Rangers pulled back within two on Beltre’s single in the ninth but did not get any closer.
Tigers’ starter Anibal Sanchez recorded the win, going 5 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs on six hits and struck out five.
Joe Saunders suffered the loss for Texas and remains winless on the season. He lasted four innings, giving up six runs on seven hits, reports ESPN.
“When he has been throwing strikes, it’s been in the middle of the plate,” Texas manager Ron Washington said in his postgame press conference on MLB.com. “He hasn’t been able to get the ball on the corners. When you bring it over the plate, they’ve been hitting it well.”