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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) – The Texas Rangers are not paying Alex Rodriguez
$252 million over 10 years to do what he has done twice this week –
hit into double plays with a chance to win games.
|  | | Dave Mlicki pitched seven strong innings to win his third straight game. |
Rodriguez hit into a game-ending double play with the tying and
go-ahead runs on base as the Detroit Tigers beat Texas Wednesday
3-2 night.
In a 7-4 loss to Chicago at home on Monday, he hit into a double
play with the bases loaded in the eighth inning.
Rodriguez said the money he's making has nothing to do with his
recent struggles.
"I think it goes beyond the contract," said Rodriguez, who was
0-for-5 with two strikeouts. "I think it's more that I care too
much about what this team does and its success. I have to go back
to simplifying things and not try to do too much. The temptation is
to hit a five-run homer with nobody on base."
Texas manager Jerry Narron said Rodriguez played despite being
sick. Rodriguez declined to comment when asked if he was not
feeling well.
Narron, who is 1-4 since replacing Johnny Oates, said it is not
deflating to see Rodriguez hit into double plays twice in three
days.
"We know if he gets up there in those situations, he's going to
come through a lot more than he isn't," Narron said. "I hope he
gets up there every night in that same situation because we'll win
a lot of ballgames."
It's Detroit that is winning while the Rangers are not.
The Tigers (14-17) have won nine of 12, and five of those wins
have come against Texas, which has lost nine of 10 and 15 of 20.
The Rangers (12-21) have their worst record after 33 games since
1985.
Dave Mlicki (3-2) pitched seven strong innings and Brandon Inge
hit a two-run single to lead the Tigers.
Mlicki has won three straight games, two of them against Texas.
He struck out eight and allowed four hits and five walks.
Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his seventh save in nine
opportunities. He allowed one-out singles by Rusty Greer and Randy
Velarde before Rodriguez's double play.
"I got lucky tonight," Jones said. "I can dream up about six
other scenarios that I'd rather face other than him with the game
on the line."
Mlicki struck out the side on 12 pitches in the first. He then
struck out Doug Mirabelli to end the second after giving up a
single to Rafael Palmeiro and loading the bases with walks.
"We're having fun and when you have fun you start playing
better," Mlicki said. "It sure beats April right now. Guys are
doing the little things, the defense is playing well, we're making
pitches when we need to, we're getting some wins.
"It makes it a lot more fun coming to the yard."
Doug Davis (2-3) pitched 6 1-3 innings and gave up 10 hits and
three runs.
"I pitched out of some jams," Davis said, "but I didn't pitch
well enough for us to win."
Roger Cedeno singled, advanced to third on a double by Jose
Macias and scored on Tony Clark's groundout, giving the Tigers a
1-0 lead in the first.
Detroit scored two more runs in the fourth on singles by Dean
Palmer, Juan Encarnacion and Damion Easley, loading the bases
before Inge followed with his two-run single.
After giving up a single to Cedeno, loading the bases again,
Davis struck out Macias and got Bobby Higginson to fly out.
Frank Catalanotto ended Mlicki's hopes for a shutout with a
two-out homer in the sixth, making it 3-1.
Palmeiro homered off C.J. Nitkowski in the eighth to pull the
Rangers within a run.
"We stayed in a game that we had no business being in," Narron
said.
The Tigers will go for a three-game sweep against the Rangers,
for the second time in a week, on Thursday afternoon.
"That's what is great about this game, you have tomorrow,"
Rodriguez said. "But we keep talking about tomorrow, tomorrow."
Game notes
The Tigers have 10 or more hits in eight of their last nine
games. ... Texas OF Ruben Mateo missed his third straight game
because of headaches and dizziness, but is expected to play Friday
at Chicago. ... Higginson and Palmer extended their hitting streaks
to 10 games, while Cedeno, who had three hits, has an eight-game
streak. ... Clark played after a stiff back limited him to
pinch-hitting duty on Tuesday.
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RECAPS
Seattle 10
Boston 5
Cleveland 5
Kansas City 1
Detroit 3
Texas 2
NY Yankees 2
Minnesota 0
Oakland 8
Toronto 5
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Chi. White Sox 6
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Houston 7
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Cincinnati 2
Atlanta 3
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San Francisco 0
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