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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers have been taking full
advantage of Alex Rodriguez's mistakes.
Tony Clark drove in four runs, including a go-ahead solo homer
in the eighth inning, as Detroit beat Texas 6-5 Thursday to sweep
the Rangers for the second time in a week.
|  | | Tony Clark follows through on a three-run double in the fifth inning off Ryan Glynn. |
Rodriguez, the Rangers' $252 million shortstop, has had a chance
to win three games this week -- and failed each time.
His throwing error allowed Detroit's first run to score and he
struck out with a runner on to end Thursday's game, the Tigers'
10th victory in 13 outings.
Detroit's 3-2 victory over Texas on Wednesday ended with
Rodriguez hitting into a double play with two men on. 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.
"I've got to move on and forget about this week," said
Rodriguez, who has been battling a cold since Sunday. "It's
obvious that I'm not playing well, but I have to stop beating
myself up. ... I've had weeks like this and I'm going to have more
weeks like this, but I'm going to get better and we're going to get
better as a team."
The Rangers have lost five straight games and 10 of 11. Their
12-22 record is their worst through 34 games since a 10-24 start in
1985, and tied their third-worst start ever.
Detroit (15-17) has played well since starting 5-14.
"This is good," Detroit manager Phil Garner said. "This has
added a couple years onto my life."
Clark hit a three-run double in the fifth to give the Tigers a
5-3 lead. After Texas' Rafael Palmeiro tied the game with a two-run
homer in the eighth, Clark gave Detroit the lead back with a
411-foot shot to right off Jeff Zimmerman (1-3).
"I got the head on the bat a couple times and got it to go,"
Clark said. "I never go to the plate looking to get a home run."
Danny Patterson (3-1) got two batters out in the eighth before
Todd Jones earned his eighth save in 10 opportunities.
Jones also got Rodriguez to hit into the game-ending double play
on Wednesday.
"It's weird," Jones said. "The one guy you don't want to deal
with, you deal with two days in a row. I'm saying, 'What did I do
to deserve this?' I didn't do anything to deserve this. I'm a good
guy, I eat my vegetables."
Detroit starter Jeff Weaver allowed three runs -- one earned --
along with seven hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings.
Texas' Ryan Glynn gave up five runs, four earned, on six hits,
three walks and two wild pitches over six innings.
Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Clark, who had
walked, scored when Rodriguez threw away the relay toss trying to
complete a double play on Juan Encarnacion's grounder.
Rodriguez has eight errors this season after making just 10 last
season for Seattle.
Texas took a 3-1 lead in the third. Ken Caminiti hit his fourth
homer of the year, Doug Mirabelli followed with a double and
eventually came around on Deivi Cruz's throwing error, and
Rodriguez added an RBI single.
The Tigers pulled to 3-2 in the third, when Roger Cedeno tripled
and scored on Jose Macias' sacrifice fly.
The Tigers loaded the bases against Glynn in the fifth on Damion
Easley's single and walks to Cedeno and Bobby Higginson. Clark then
hit a 420-foot double off the base of the center-field wall to
clear the bases and make it 5-3.
Matt Anderson walked Rodriguez in the eighth and was replaced by
C.J. Nitkowski. Palmeiro drove Nitkowski's first pitch over the
wall to make it 5-5.
Texas manager Jerry Narron is 1-5 since replacing Johnny Oates.
"We've got a lot of season left," Narron said. "You can't
bury yourself mentally."
Narron said he knows Rodriguez eventually will spark the
Rangers.
"I just don't want him to try to do it in one at-bat or one
play," Narron said. "He's going to do it."
Game notes
The Tigers hadn't swept a three-game home series against
Texas since July 15-17, 1991. ... The benches and bullpens cleared,
but no punches were thrown, as the first inning ended. Glynn
appeared to say something to Higginson after a groundout. ...
Caminiti's 228 homers tie him with Howard Johnson for 10th place
among switch-hitters in major league history. ... Higginson
extended his hitting streak to 11 games; Cedeno's is at nine.
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OTHER GAMES
Baseball Scoreboard
Texas Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 6
Texas 5
Seattle 5
Boston 2
Kansas City 8
Cleveland 3
Minnesota 5
NY Yankees 4
Oakland 14
Toronto 8
Baltimore 9
Tampa Bay 5
Anaheim 7
Chi. White Sox 6
Milwaukee 11
Chicago Cubs 1
St. Louis 11
Pittsburgh 5
Colorado 8
NY Mets 2
San Francisco 13
Montreal 0
San Diego 6
Atlanta 5
Los Angeles 4
Florida 3
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