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Sunday, Jul. 30 8:05pm ET
Palmer (four RBI) powers Tigers' win | |||||
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GAME LOG
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- This time, the big early lead almost didn't hold up for the Detroit Tigers. Dean Palmer hit a two-run homer and an RBI single in the first two innings as the Detroit Tigers built a 7-0 lead before holding on to beat the Texas Rangers 8-7 Sunday night. "It don't matter whether you hang on to win or come from behind to win it, what counts is you win it and we did," Tigers manager Phil Garner said. The Tigers scored six runs in the first inning for the second straight night, even after their first two batters made outs. Juan Gonzalez then had an RBI single, Palmer hit his 20th homer and Shane Halter had a three-run triple. Detroit, which earned a split in the four-game series, led 7-0 when Palmer's single followed Gonzalez's double in the second. "We've been swinging the bat well for the last month as a team, and able to go out and score runs consistently," Palmer said. "That is what was missing early in the year when we were struggling." After losing the first two games of the series, Detroit turned a six-run first inning Saturday night into a 10-2 victory. Palmer, who added an RBI double in the seventh after another Gonzalez hit, wasn't part of the nine-player trade last November that sent Gonzalez from Texas to Detroit. The Rangers traded Palmer to Kansas City in 1997, and he signed with Tigers as a free agent after the 1998 season. Gonzalez was 3-for-5. The former two-time AL MVP finished 8-for-16 in his only trip to The Ballpark in Arlington this season. After the game, Gonzalez refused to talk to a group of reporters. "You know it was a big series for him coming back here for the first time," Palmer said. "I felt like he swung the bat well. He's probably happy to put it all behind him now." Despite struggling, Willie Blair (8-2) earned the victory by pitching into the sixth inning. He gave up four runs on seven hits and three walks before being pulled after former Tiger Bill Haselman's leadoff single in the sixth. Todd Jones got three outs for his league-leading 29th save in 30 chances. Texas starter Darren Oliver (2-6) lasted only two innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits. The left-hander apparently isn't recovered from the weakness in his left shoulder that sidelined him for more than a month. Since returning from the disabled list July 20, Oliver is 0-2 with a no-decision and a 12.31 ERA (16 earned runs in 11 2-3 innings). This outing was his shortest since going just two innings for St. Louis against Houston on Sept. 23, 1998. "I just can't figure it out. It's a struggle. I wish I had the answers," Oliver said. "I can't really get into a groove. Things aren't clicking." Texas manager Johnny Oates' assessment of Oliver was more blunt. "His velocity was right there. Location-wise, he stunk," Oates said. Royce Clayton's second RBI single made it 7-3 in the fourth inning, but the Rangers missed an opportunity for more when Rusty Greer struck out with the bases loaded. The first hit for Clayton, whose seven-game hitting streak is a season-high, came in the second inning. That followed a double by Haselman that scored Gabe Kapler, who doubled to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, tying a team high this season. Luis Alicea had a sacrifice fly and Chad Curtis a pinch-hit RBI single in the sixth for Texas. Haselman's third hit, a bloop single to left, cut it to 8-6 before Mike Lamb's RBI groundout scored the final run in the ninth. Game notesDetroit scored six first-inning runs for the second straight night, again without help from Damion Easley. The leadoff hitter was 0-for-4 combined in his first-inning at-bats. ... Palmer has 20 home runs for the seventh time. ... Kapler has an extra-base hit in seven straight games, one short of a Texas record. ... With a crowd of 40,167, the Rangers went over the 2 million mark in home attendance for the fifth straight year and 11th time in 12 seasons. ... Blair is the first Detroit pitcher with eight wins. ... The Tigers, who won 10-2 Saturday, are just 5-11 following a game in which they scored 10 or more runs. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Detroit Clubhouse Texas Clubhouse RECAPS Baltimore 10 Cleveland 7
Detroit 8
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