Homer-happy Tigers end Rangers’ 10-game win streak

A.J. Griffin surrendered nine runs in 3 1/3 innings Saturday, including back-to-back-to-back shots in the first inning, and the Detroit Tigers snuffed out the Texas Rangers’ 10-game winning streak with a 9-3 victory.

Alex Avila, Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez connected in the first, and Nicholas Castellanos swatted a three-run home a four-run third.

The Rangers scored three runs against Justin Verlander. Two came in the fourth on a double by Nomar Mazara, and Jonathan Lucroy went deep in the sixth.　

How Rangers hitters fared: They didn’t have nearly enough to overcome the worst outing of the season by a starting pitcher. ... Nomar Mazara collected a two-run double in the fourth, and Jonathan Lucroy homered in the sixth. ... The Rangers didn’t have a base runner until Shin-Soo Choo opened the fourth with a walk, and they had only four hits in seven innings against Justin Verlander.　　

How Rangers pitchers fared: A.J. Griffin was lousy. He allowed nine runs in 3 1/3 innings, and the Tigers got him for four home runs. Three of those came consecutively with one out in the first. ... The biggest shot was Nicholas Castellanos’ three-run homer in the fourth. ... Austin Bibens-Dirkx, though, was terrific in relief with 4 2/3 one-hit innings. He struck out Miguel Cabrera for his first out. Cabrera hit one of the homers in the first.

This story was originally published May 20, 2017 at 9:16 PM with the headline "Homer-happy Tigers end Rangers’ 10-game win streak."