Hunter Hits 2000th, Tigers Beat Blue Jays
DETROIT (AP) - AL MVP Miguel Cabrera hit his first homer of the season and drove in four runs, left fielder Don Kelly made a home run-robbing catch and the Detroit Tigers beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 Tuesday.
The Blue Jays, who spent millions during the winter to upgrade their roster, fell to 2-5 for their worst start since 2004.
Cabrera, coming off his Triple Crown season, had four hits and scored three times.
Torii Hunter had three hits, including the 2,000th of his career, and Alex Avila homered.
Kelly took away a home run from J.P. Arencibia leading off the second. Kelly ran back to the wall, reached above the fence and caught the ball as he rammed into the padding. Kelly bounced back toward the field and fell onto the warning track, but held on.
Anibal Sanchez (1-0) struck out eight in seven innings. He allowed two runs and five hits with one walk.
Drew Smyly and Al Alburquerque combined to pitch the eighth. Joaquin Benoit worked the ninth and gave up Cody Rasmus' solo home run.
Brandon Morrow (0-1) gave up five runs and nine hits in 3 2-3 innings.
Cabrera hit an opposite-field liner just over the fence in right for a three-run homer in the fourth for a 5-1 lead. His 100th career home run at Comerica Park came after Austin Jackson and Hunter singled, and finished Morrow.
Miguel Cabrera added a run-scoring single and Matt Tuiasosopo had an RBI double in the eighth.
Melky Cabrera had three hits and his first RBI for Toronto. He moved past 1,000 career hits.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the first on Prince Fielder's RBI double off the wall in right-center. He drove in Cabrera, who singled with two outs.
Avila's second home run of the season made it 2-0 in the second. He homered on Morrow's first pitch of the inning - it was the first pitch Avila saw since the birth of his first child, Avery Noelle, on Sunday.
The Blue Jays got a run in the third on Emilio Bonifacio's triple and Jose Reyes' single.
(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
