Porcello Throws 3-Hitter, Tigers Blank Rangers 6-0
STEPHEN HAWKINS, AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rick Porcello pitched a three-hitter for his first career shutout and 10th victory this season as the Detroit Tigers beat the skidding Texas Rangers 6-0 Thursday night for their seventh consecutive victory.
Miguel Cabrera had four hits and Austin Jackson hit a two-run single for the AL Central leaders, who completed a three-game sweep.
While the Tigers have the longest winning streak in the majors, Texas has the longest losing streak at eight in a row.
Porcello (10-4) limited the Rangers to three singles and benefited from three double plays. He struck out six and walked three, throwing 72 of his season-high 115 pitches for strikes.
It was only the second complete game for Porcello in 164 major league starts — all for the Tigers since 2009. The right-hander has won at least 10 games in each of his six seasons.
Rangers rookie Nick Martinez (1-5) allowed six hits and walked five of the 18 batters he faced in 2 1-3 innings.
Texas has its longest losing streak since dropping eight in a row in August 2005. The Rangers are 1-6-1 in their last eight series overall, and 16-22 at home.
Detroit went ahead to stay in the third when Torii Hunter drew a bases-loaded walk before Cabrera's deep inning-ending flyout with the bases loaded.
Victor Martinez drew a walk to start the third before a double by Nick Castellanos set up Jackson's two-run single. After two more walks, Nick Martinez was pulled and Ian Kinsler greeted reliever Scott Baker with an RBI single that made it 4-0.
Kinsler, the three-time All-Star second baseman for the Rangers who was traded to Detroit for Prince Fielder last offseason, homered in his first at-bat Tuesday in his return to Texas as an opponent. Kinsler went 6 for 14 in the series with four runs and four RBIs.
With two hits in all three games, Kinsler extended his streak of multihit games to five and is hitting .302 on the season. He has 31 multihit games, one behind Houston's Jose Altuve for the most in the majors.
J.D. Martinez had a sacrifice fly for the Tigers, but went 0 for 4 to snap his 14-game hitting streak that was the longest active run in the majors.
Cabrera had three singles before his AL-high 28th double in the eighth drove home Kinsler.
NOTES: It was the fourth shutout for the Tigers this season. Texas was held scoreless for the fourth time. ... Rangers LHP Derek Holland, on the DL since offseason left knee surgery, took fielding practice off the mound. He is scheduled to throw a simulated game Saturday in Arlington. Holland said he feels great, "like I can do everything." ... Texas GM Jon Daniels said his team can't focus on all the injuries — a major league-high 14 players on the disabled list. He said a big thing right now is player development at the big league level with the youngsters having to play. ... Tigers RHP Evan Reed, designated for assignment June 18, was sent outright to Triple-A Toledo.
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