Rangers Down Detroit

{fshare id=3847}

ARLINGTON, Texas — A career-high five hits by Elvis Andrus and a strong start from Justin Grimm sent the Texas Rangers to a 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.

Andrus had three hits and scored two runs in the first three innings, added a double in the sixth, a single to right in the eighth and also had two RBI. He was a home run short of his first career cycle.

“(Adrian) Beltre told me that I better go out there and have three hard swings no matter what,” Andrus said at his attempt at a home run in the eighth. “I am really happy with tonight’s game and hopefully we can come back tomorrow and take the series.”

For Grimm, the only blemish was a two-run third inning by the Tigers.

“(Manager Ron) Washington pulled me in the dugout and told me to trust my stuff, that I had it and that it’s good enough,” Grimm said. “He tapped me in the face and it caught me off guard. He was showing confidence in me and that helped me a little bit.”

Grimm, having lost his previous three starts, moved to 3-3 after allowing two earned runs. He left after 6 2/3 innings to a standing ovation.

“That was pretty special to me,” Grimm said. “My brother made it down and it was his first time seeing me live. To get a standing ovation was pretty special.”

Texas put up six runs in the first three innings after scoring just one in the previous night’s 2-1 loss to the Tigers.

In the third, the Rangers’ Mitch Moreland sent the second pitch of the inning deep to left for a home run and Andrus accounted for his second RBI.

After the departure of Grimm in the seventh, Michael Kirkman, Tanner Scheppers and Joe Nathan combined to retire the final 10 Detroit batters.

Detroit’s only offense came in the top of the third.

“We have run into a little funk in which we are getting to our bullpen too early,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “We are going there because we have to and not because we want to.”

The Tigers and Rangers conclude a four-game series on Sunday when Doug Fister (5-1) faces Derek Holland (3-2).

Share and Enjoy !

Shares