Miguel Cabrera Muscles up Against Oakland – 2 HRs 6 RBI

American League MVP race – advantage Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera slugged two home runs and knocked in six runs as the Detroit Tigers pounded the Oakland Athletics 12-2.  Tigers starter Max Scherzer left the game after two innings with shoulder fatigue in his throwing shoulder. An MRI revealed no structural damage. Scherzer entered the game with a major league-leading 220 strikeouts. Darin Downs (2-1) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for the win.

Austin Jackson had three hits and three runs scored for Detroit, and Prince Fielder hit his 27th home run of the season in the fifth inning off of Griffin.

Oakland starter A.J. Griffin surrendered five earned runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. While the Tigers are making a push to win the American League Central Division, Cabrera is making a push to become the first Triple Crown winner since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.

Cabrera leads the league in batting average, .333  and RBI 129 , and trails Josh Hamilton by only two home runs with 40.

“Our job is to win games. There’s no talk about personal numbers,” Cabrera said. “Hopefully we can get a good winning streak.”

Cabrera finished the night 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Cabrera and rookie Los Angeles Angels sensation Mike Trout have been the subject of American League MVP debate for much of the summer. Trout has cooled off of late, while Cabrera continues to establish himself as the premier hitter in baseball.