Cabrera sits, but Tigers beat Orioles 6-4 to complete sweep

BALTIMORE (AP) — Miguel Cabrera is heading back to Detroit for what should be the Tigers' most anticipated homestand in a while.

One homer shy of 500, Cabrera sat out the last game of Detroit's trip Thursday, and the Tigers did fine without him, beating Baltimore 6-4 to complete a three-game sweep.

“I'm hoping he proves us right — to hit it at home in front of our fans, and hit it in a win,” manager A.J. Hinch said before the game.

Cabrera hit homer No. 499 on Wednesday night, and afterward Hinch said the 38-year-old slugger would play Thursday as well. But Hinch changed course and left Cabrera out of the lineup, citing the heat and the fact that rain delays had made for some long nights at the ballpark earlier in the series.

The temperature at game time Thursday was 97 degrees.

Detroit begins a three-game series at home against Cleveland on Friday night, then hosts the Angels for three games next week.

Renato Núñez homered in his return to Baltimore, and Victor Reyes and Robbie Grossman also went deep for Detroit. The Orioles have lost eight in a row.

“It feels amazing,” Núñez said. “It was such a great game.”

The Tigers, who started 9-24, are now percentage points ahead of Cleveland for second place in the AL Central.

Matt Manning (3-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings for Detroit, equaling the longest start of his debut season. Kyle Funkhouser followed in relief, and Michael Fulmer pitched two scoreless innings for his seventh save in nine chances.

Baltimore put men on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Cedric Mullins, who had three hits on the day, hit into a force play. Austin Hays then did the same to end it.

DJ Stewart hit solo homers in the fourth and sixth innings for the Orioles,...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Cabrera-sits-but-Tigers-beat-Orioles-6-4-to-16383912.php