Tigers Win One, Lose One
SARASOTA, Fla. (WWJ/AP) - It's a case of good news/bad news in regards to the Tigers. The Tigers played a pair of split squad games and lost to Astros 3-1 but demolished the Baltimore Orioles 9-1 on Sunday.
Miguel Cabrera is rounding into form after a rocky start this spring - on and off the field.
Cabrera had three hits and two RBIs and rookie Adam Wilk pitched three scoreless innings to help the Detroit Tigers beat the Orioles 9-1.
The 27-year-old Cabrera was arrested Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. He is set to be arraigned on Wednesday.
He started the spring with a 4-for-23 slide, and is now batting .303. He drove in the Tigers' first run off Brian Matusz in the first inning, singled and stole second in the fifth and drove in another run with an opposite-field broken-bat single in the sixth.
``I'm starting to swing good. I'm concentrating on my swing,'' Cabrera said. ``I'm working toward the season and the whole year.''
His bat cracked on his hit in the sixth, with the ball getting by Baltimore first baseman Josh Bell.
``Lucky hit. Hopefully in the season, I'll have a lot like that,'' Cabrera said.
Casper Wells had four hits and three RBIs for the Tigers' split- squad, and Wilk faced the minimum nine batters, allowing one hit. He's thrown nine scoreless innings this spring.
Fellow rookie Charlie Furbush allowed a run and two hits in three innings, striking out five.
``Those kids did a good job. It's still spring training. I'm not getting carried away - by any means,'' Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.
Action in Lakeland had J.R. Towles with three hits, including an RBI single and his second spring home run Sunday, leading the Houston Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers in a matchup of split-squads.
Magglio Ordonez's first home run accounted for Detroit's run off left-hander Ryan Rowland-Smith in the first inning.
Rowland-Smith, competing for a spot in the Astros' rotation, gave up three hits in three innings.
Detroit starter Max Scherzer gave up two runs on five hits and three walks in 3 1-3 innings.
(Copyright 2011 WWJ Newsradio 950. All Rights Reserved.) (Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Right Reserved.)
