Field Level Media
Jul 7, 2018
The Detroit Tigers scored seven first-inning runs off Texas ace Cole Hamels with the aid of a three-run error and Mike Fiers tossed six strong innings in a 7-2 victory over the visiting Rangers on Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park.
Niko Goodrum reached base five times on four hits and a walk and scored a run. Goodrum's four-hit performance was the second of his career.
Nicholas Castellanos had a solo homer while Mikie Mahtook and Jose Iglesias each contributed two hits and an RBI in Detroit's second straight win.
Tigers centerfielder JaCoby Jones robbed Adrian Beltre of a homer in the sixth, extending his glove over the wall on the leaping grab.
Fiers (6-5) gave up one run on five hits while walking one and striking out six.
Rougned Odor's solo homer accounted for the lone Texas run. The Rangers have scored just three runs in the last two games.
Rangers designated hitter Shin-Soo Choo extended his on-base streak to 46 games with a first-inning double. That tied Julio Franco's club record set in 1993.
Hamels (4-8) couldn't get out of the first inning. Just three of the seven runs he allowed were earned. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out two.
Castellanos got Detroit's big first inning going with his one-out solo shot. Goodrum then singled, stole second and scored on John Hicks' single.
Hamels walked the next two batters before striking out James McCann. Iglesias' infield single scored two runs and made it 3-0.
Hamels should have gotten out of the inning but center fielder Delino DeShields had trouble finding Jones' liner. The ball bounced off DeShields' glove and all three runners came around to score on the error. Mahtook's run-scoring single brought in the seventh run and ended Hamels' day.
The Tigers continued to put runners on base but couldn't score again. They left a runner stranded in the second, third and seventh, and two runners on in the fourth, fifth and sixth and eighth.
Following Jones' sensational catch, Odor ended Fiers' shutout bid with his fifth homer.
--Field Level Media