Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera runs the bases after hitting a grand slam home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Jesse Chavez during the eighth inning at Comerica Park. (PHOTO: US PRESSWIRE)
DETROIT, MI - Miguel Cabrera put an exclamation point on a possible American League MVP award Tuesday.
Cabrera hit a pair of homers, including the Detroit Tigers' first grand slam of the season, in a 12-2 thumping over the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a three-game set.
Cabrera tallied three hits, six RBI and three runs scored. His grand slam in the eighth, a no-doubt shot into left-center field, gave him his 40th homer of the year.
Detroit sits 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago White Sox for the AL-Central lead. The White Sox are currently in Kansas City taking on the Royals.
A.J. Griffin (6-1), who was undefeated with a 1.94 ERA over his first 11 starts of his career, was touched for five runs on eight hits and a walk over 4 2/3 innings for Oakland, which has lost three of its last five on the heels of a six-game winning streak.
The Sports Network