Rangers 7, Tigers 1
Rangers 7, Tigers 1: Mitch Moreland belted a two-run home run and A.J. Pierzynski drove in a pair of runs as visiting Texas stopped Max Scherzer from becoming the first pitcher in major-league history to enter the All-Star break 14-0.
Nelson Cruz went 4-for-5 and scored twice while Derek Holland (8-4) overcame a career high-tying five walks and struck out seven over seven innings to help the Rangers improve to 6-0 in his starts against Detroit. Joakim Soria and Neal Cotts completed the game with a scoreless inning apiece for Texas.
Scherzer (13-1) yielded four runs on eight hits over six frames, taking his first loss in 20 regular-season outings. In addition to suffering his first loss against the Rangers in eight career starts, the right-hander was attempting to become the first pitcher since Boston’s Roger Clemens in 1986 to begin a season with 14 consecutive victories.
Holland and Scherzer traded zeros until the fourth when Cruz led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Pierzynski’s sacrifice fly. Elvis Andrus drew a walk and Moreland drilled a first-pitch fastball from Scherzer over the fence in left-center for his first homer since June 4.
Hernan Perez drove in his first major-league run with a single to center in the bottom half of the fourth to cut the deficit to 3-1, but Pierzynski’s two-out RBI double in the fifth re-established the three-run margin. Texas added three more in the ninth, capped by a two-run blast from Adrian Beltre.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Scherzer also saw his 18-game unbeaten streak to begin the season – the fourth-longest such run in the majors since 1916 – come to an end. … Holland recorded his first career decision against the Tigers as Texas improved to 10-4 in his starts since May 3. … Detroit DH Victor Martinez went 0-for-4, snapping his 14-game hitting streak.