Detroit Tigers vs Texas Rangers Box Score on Aug 15, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 16, 2017

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Joey Gallo and Mike Napoli hit back-to-back home runs off Justin Verlander in the fourth inning, and the Texas Rangers used two four-run frames to walk over the Detroit Tigers 10-4 on Monday.

Texas has won five of its past six games. Detroit has dropped nine of its past 11.

Gallo's two-run homer in the Rangers' four-run fourth was his 34th of the season, as he tied Kansas City's Mike Moustakas for second in the American League.

Napoli was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, including a two-run single in the Rangers' four-run eighth.

Robinson Chirinos smacked his career-high 14th home run to tie the game at 1-all in the third, Nomar Mazara had an RBI single in the fourth, and Adrian Beltre hit a run-scoring double in the eighth.

Shin-Soo Choo accounted for the Rangers' 10th run with an eighth-inning base hit.

Every hitter in Texas' lineup registered a hit, except Rougned Odor, who had two walks and would have stolen home in the seventh had Tigers left-handed reliever Daniel Stumpf not committed a balk.

Texas' A.J. Griffin (6-3), who was battered in a start against Detroit in May and had a 10.88 ERA in five career starts against the Tigers, earned the victory. The right-hander, making his fourth start since coming off the disabled list Aug. 2, gave up one run on five hits and two walks while striking out four over five innings.

Verlander (8-8), seeking his fourth consecutive victory, took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits and no walks. He struck out eight.

Detroit starters have given up homers in 10 of its last 11 games. They have a 7.94 ERA during that stretch, and that includes Verlander's last start in which he didn't give up a run over eight innings.

Shortstop Jose Iglesias drove in two runs for the Tigers, who cut a four-run deficit to two in the seventh off Texas right-handed reliever Tony Barnette. Alex Presley and Iglesias had the RBIs in the inning for Detroit. Victor Martinez, who was 2-for-3, connected on a solo home run in the ninth off Rangers right-hander Jason Grilli.

Detroit catcher John Hicks had three hits, including two doubles, and two runs, and Ian Kinsler added two hits.

Miguel Cabrera, who sat out the previous two games with a stiff back, was back in the Detroit's lineup and went hitless in three at-bats.

Odor reached by a walk in the seventh, stole second and advanced to third on Hicks' throw trying to catch him. During the left-handed Choo's at-bat, Odor bolted for home. He beat Stumpf's throw, though plate umpire John Tumpane signaled a balk.

Detroit used two doubles in the second inning to take an early lead. Iglesias' double to left brought Hicks home from second.

Chirinos' solo home run in the third evened the score.

Elvis Andrus led off the Texas' four-run fourth with a base hit to right. He advanced on Adrian Beltre's hard comebacker to Verlander, who had only one play, to first, after being unable to field the ball cleanly.

Mazara's blooper to left knocked in Andrus, setting the stage for Gallo and Napoli.

After appearing overmatched in a strikeout in his first at-bat against Verlander, Gallo drove a 3-2 pitch 459 feet into the home run deck in right field for his 34th of the season.

Napoli's blast to left -- his 24th of the season -- gave Texas a 5-1 lead.

NOTES: Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler was still hot under the collar about his ejection from Monday's game for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Angel Hernandez. Of Hernandez, Kinsler said: "It has to do with changing the game. He's changing the game. He needs to find another job. He really does." ... Texas OF Carlos Gomez was out of the lineup for a second straight game because of illness, manager Jeff Banister said. ... Texas 3B Adrian Beltre played in career game No. 2,785, passing Alex Rodriguez for 25th all-time. ... The Rangers made a minor trade before the game, sending Triple-A Round Rock OF Travis Snider to the New York Mets for future considerations.