three innings but suffered his third consecutive loss. The rookie le

ARLINGTON, Texas -- With a little help from slugger Miguel Cabrera, Rick Porcello and the Detroit Tigers slowed down the Texas Rangers. Cabrera went 3 for 4 with a go-ahead double in the fifth inning to back Porcello and lift the Tigers over the Rangers 2-1 Friday night in a matchup of division leaders. Texas had scored 51 runs in its past eight games, going 7-1 in that stretch. Porcello and four relievers, however, cooled off a Rangers offence that knocked out ace Justin Verlander in the third inning Thursday night. Cabrera broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double off the wall in left that scored Andy Dirks. Cabrera scored later in the fifth to provide the Tigers with just enough offence to give manager Jim Leyland his 1,699th career victory. "We had some opportunities and we were able to score just enough runs to beat them today," Detroit catcher Alex Avila said. "And on the flip side, our guys were able to keep it at a minimum when they had opportunities. We were able to get out of big jams." Porcello (2-2) allowed one run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings with six strikeouts and a walk as the Tigers rebounded from a 10-4 loss Thursday night. The 24-year-old Porcello is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four starts since giving up nine runs in two-thirds of an inning April 20 against the Los Angeles Angels. Detroit remained tied with the Cleveland Indians atop the AL Central. "I think Im in a little bit of a groove for sure," Porcello said. "Im getting better results now, so its nice." Joaquin Benoit escaped a first-and-third jam with one out in the eighth when he induced Nelson Cruzs double-play grounder. Cruz also bounced into a double play in the fourth when the Rangers had runners on first and second with nobody out. The Rangers, owners of the best record in the AL, went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. "You want to be up in those situations," Cruz said. "I just hope to get another chance so I come through." Jose Valverde got three groundouts around a one-out walk to Geovany Soto in the ninth, getting his fourth save in five chances this season. "You dont expect a 2-1 ballgame in this ballpark too many times," Leyland said. "Its a lightning rod and you can hit it out of here at any time." Soto homered for a second straight game, a solo shot off Porcello in the fifth that brought the Rangers within 2-1. Rookie Nick Tepesch (3-4) gave up two runs, six hits and three walks in five innings as Detroit stopped the Rangers three-game winning streak. "Detroit has a pretty good lineup," Tepesch said. "I just have to take the positives from this start and be ready for the next one." Dirks led off the fifth with a bloop single to centre and advanced to second on a groundout. Cabrera, hitting .509 (27 for 53) with runners in scoring position, lined an 0-1 pitch off the wall in left field near the out of town scoreboard for his AL-leading 42nd RBI. Cabrera scored on Avilas sacrifice fly. Cabrera nearly put Detroit ahead in the third when he singled to centre with Dirks on second base. Leonys Martin made a perfect throw to Soto at the plate for the out. NOTES: Texas RHP Alexi Ogando, placed on the DL Thursday with right biceps tendinitis, underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage. ... Texas 2B Ian Kinsler did not start because of bruised ribs after he was hit by a Verlander pitch Thursday night. Kinsler entered in the ninth as pinch runner. ... Detroits Torii Hunter is two home runs shy of 300 in his career. ... Rangers RHP Justin Miller (right elbow surgery) was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday night at Double-A Frisco. Cheap Air Max Plus Womens .ca NHL Power Rankings for the second straight week, ahead of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. Cheap Air Max Plus . After the whistle, Thornton skated the length of the ice, pulled Orpik to the ice from behind and punched him in the face several times. http://www.cheapairmaxplus.net/ . Ashley Youngs cross was inadvertently headed by Chester into his own net in the 66th minute, allowing United to claim a third straight league win. "We had to dig deep with our fighting spirit and weve done that," United striker Wayne Rooney said. Air Max Plus For Sale Cheap . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Cheap Air Max Plus China .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. OAKLAND, Calif. -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon thought Jorge Soler might get a jolt out of returning to the majors after spending two months recovering from a nagging hamstring injury, including a two-week stint in the minors.Boy, was Maddon right.Soler hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat after being activated off the disabled list, Jon Lester pitched seven strong innings, and Chicago beat the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Friday night.Sometimes a guy just needs to show up and then he gets the adrenaline going on, and that was a big hit, Maddon said. I didnt think it was high enough to go out. It was out so quickly.Dexter Fowler also homered while Javier Baez added a two-run double to help Chicago win its fifth straight. The Cubs also improved to a major league-best 67-41.Lester (12-4) pitched for the As over the final two months of the 2014 season after getting traded from Boston. He returned to the Coliseum for the first time since then and faced a distinctly different Oakland team than the one he left.Any time youve been on the home side and come back as a visitor its different, said Lester, who had eight strikeouts, and allowed two runs on nine hits.I enjoyed pitching here. I wish it turned out a little different but I was with a good team and great fans. Its unbelievable to come here as a home player as opposed to a visitor.Soler, out since June 6 with a hamstring injury, celebrated his return to the majors with his home run in the first inning off As starter Dillon Overton (1-3).That capped a four-run burst by the Cubs that included Fowlers fifth game-opening home run this season.Soler also reached on a fielders choice and scored on Baezs double in the third. Jason Heyward added an RBI single in the inning to help extend Chicagos lead to 7-0.dddddddddddd wasnt feeling any pressure, I just wanted to put a good swing on the ball, Soler said through an interpreter. I was a little bit frustrated being out at least two months but I just wanted to keep the positive attitude and come here and try to do my best.Brett Eibner, called up from the minors earlier in the day, homered against Lester leading off the sixth for Oakland. Marcus Semien added an RBI single.ROOKIE ROUGHED UPOverton allowed seven runs in three innings but suffered his third consecutive loss. The rookie left-hander is winless since beating the Los Angeles Angels in his major league debut June 25. Believe it or not I was actually hitting my spots better tonight, Overton said. They were just hitting everything I threw. Youre going to have days like that You just have to work with it and keep grounded.TRAINERS ROOMCubs: Maddon said the plan is to ease Soler back in and get him some defensive work in the outfield before the team faces another NL team on Aug. 11. ... RHP Joe Nathan was designated for assignment. The 41-year-old was 1-0 in three appearances with the Chicago.Athletics: Jed Lowrie was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a bunion on his left foot. ... RHP Jesse Hahn also went on the DL with a strained right shoulder. ... RHP Andrew Triggs was called back up from Triple-A Nashville along with Eibner.UP NEXTCubs: RHP Jake Arrieta (12-5) pitches the middle game of the series at the Coliseum. The Chicago ace has lost three straight decisions.Athetics: RHP Sonny Gray (5-10) has won only twice in 11 starts since coming off the disabled list. Gray has a 5.57 ERA over that span. ' ' '