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 "It was nothing personal at all," Kinsler said. "I was just
saying hi. It was my return home. To get lucky enough to square one
up like that and it go over the fence, it was a good feeling. I was
just having fun."
The streaking Tigers certainly enjoyed Kinsler's homecoming, as they
powered past the Rangers 8-2 Tuesday night at Globe Life Park.
Detroit (41-32) has won five straight, including the first four on
its current nine-game road trip. The American League Central leaders
improved to 22-13 away from home.
The Rangers are going in the opposite direction. Texas (35-41) has
lost a season-high six in a row and is six games under .500 for the
first time since 2008.
The Tigers rode long balls from Kinsler and right fielder J.D.
Martinez. Kinsler was playing in Arlington for the first time since
being traded from Texas to Detroit in November.
"I was having a good time out there," Kinsler said.
The Tigers took a 3-1 lead in the seventh on a two-run shot to
center from Martinez. The second homer of the day off Texas starter
Colby Lewis (5-5) proved to be the difference.
"I saw him try to get ahead of two batters," Texas manager Ron
Washington said of Lewis in the seventh. "One hit him for a double
and one for a home run."
Detroit wasn't done, as the Tigers scored three more in the inning,
touching up Rangers relievers Ben Rowen and Shawn Tolleson. The
five-run outburst made a winner out of Detroit starter Drew Smyly,
who improved to 4-6.
Detroit added two runs in the eighth on Kinsler's single to put the
game out of reach. Kinsler finished 2-or-5 with three RBIs.
Detroit pounded out 16 hits, with seven starters getting at least
two. Smyly went six innings, giving up one run on five hits while
striking out five.
"Smyly did a nice job," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "His pitch
count got up early, but he shortened innings as the game went on."
Texas' troubles in its own park continued in the opener of a
six-game homestand. The Rangers are 0-5-3 in their last eight home
series, with the second of three games against Detroit coming
Wednesday night.
"Just not getting the job done right now," Washington said. "We
can't put anything together. We have to keep battling."
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Kinsler looked right at home in his return to Texas. In his first
at-bat as the game's second hitter, Kinsler took the third pitch he
saw from Lewis into the left-field seats for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Rangers escaped further damage in the inning after Martinez
doubled to center with two outs. Designated hitter Victor Martinez,
trying to score from first, was easily thrown out at home.
The Rangers knotted the game in the third on third baseman Adrian
Beltre's single to left, scoring center fielder Daniel Robertson. An
error by Detroit shortstop Eugenio Suarez kept the inning alive for
Texas.
NOTES: Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler returned to Texas for the first time
since being traded in the offseason. He was quoted in spring
training saying he wished the Rangers would go 0-162, and he called
Texas general manager Jon Daniels a "sleazeball." He has no regrets
for those comments. "I know what I meant by it. I didn't lie,"
Kinsler said. "I didn't say anything I thought was wrong. I had a
pretty good understanding they weren't going to go 0-162. It was
made to be funny with a little bit of competitive streak in it.
Everything directed toward the general manager was maybe a little
uncalled for, but at the time that's what I was feeling." ... The
Rangers purchased the contract of 1B Carlos Pena from Triple-A Round
Rock and the veteran moved into the starting lineup against Detroit.
To make room on both the active and 40-man rosters, Texas designated
1B/OF Brad Snyder for assignment. Pena, 36, was in spring training
with the Los Angeles Angels. He was released March 23.... The
Rangers held a pregame moment of silence for ESPN Dallas reporter
Richard Durrett, who died last week at age 38.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
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