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DETROIT -- Theres little doubt that Miguel Cabrera is one of the best hitters in baseball. And often, its his massive home runs that fans, players and managers remember. Thursday, though, he delivered in a different way. Cabrera found infield gaps with a pair of two-out hits to drive in three runs in Detroits 7-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. "Im just trying to hit the ball into a hole," Cabrera said. "You have to be able to use the bat to hit the pitch where they give you room." Of course, for most players, it isnt quite that simple. "I know Im supposed to stand here and talk about how amazing Miggy is, but weve just gotten to a point where we expect this kind of thing," winning pitcher Max Scherzer said. "Were thrilled when anyone else does something like that, but he does it all the time." Rajai Davis homered, doubled and singled for the Tigers, but he wasnt going to pretend to be in Cabreras territory. "I had a great day, which is fun, but that man does it every day against every pitcher in the league," Davis said. "He plays in this park and he wins batting titles and Triple Crowns. Hes a great, great hitter." Scherzer (2-1) struck out 10, allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings. A high pitch count ended his outing early. "Theres a reason hes the Cy Young winner," said Adam Dunn, who homered off Scherzer. "You go against (Justin) Verlander one night and then you have to go against Scherzer, and they are both just so tough. They have so many pitches that they can throw for strikes that you are always in trouble against them." Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his fourth save in six tries. He got the final two outs on a strikeout where Jose Abreu was called for interfering with catcher Bryan Holadays throw to second base on a stolen-base attempt. Holaday was amused to find out he had been credited with a game-ending unassisted double play. "Ive never even seen anything like that before," he laughed. "Thats my first one of those, whatever what it was." White Sox manager Robin Ventura asked plate umpire Dan Iassogna for an explanation, but didnt argue the call. "It was just interference," Ventura said. Jose Quintana (1-1) allowed three runs in six innings. Tigers reliever Al Alburquerque pitched the seventh, but Joba Chamberlain allowed two runs in the eighth to let Chicago pull within one. Detroit scored twice in the bottom half. The teams traded runs in the second, with Dunn hitting a long homer over the scoreboard in right-centre field before the Tigers answered with Austin Jacksons triple and Nick Castellanos single. Detroit went ahead in the third when Ian Kinsler singled, advanced on a wild pitch and scored as Cabrera slapped an outside pitch the other way for a single. "Facing that guy in that situation is one of the least appealing situations in baseball," Ventura said. "He can beat you with a grounder into the hole or he can hit one 500 feet. Thats tough to stop." Chicago scored just once in the first five innings, striking out nine times, but forced Scherzers pitch count up to 96, meaning that Detroit would need multiple innings from its struggling bullpen. Davis made it 3-1 in the fifth with his second homer of the season, a shot to left that cleared the Tigers bullpen. Dayan Viciedo left off the White Sox sixth with a triple when Torii Hunter lost a fly ball in the sun. Alexei Ramirez followed with a sacrifice fly to cut Detroits lead to one run on Scherzers 102nd pitch. Ramirez, who made several outstanding defensive plays at shortstop, prevented a run with a diving stop on Davis grounder in the seventh. It went for an infield hit, loading the bases with one out, but Maikel Cleto got Kinsler to pop out. Daniel Webb came in and Cabrera bounced his second pitch up the middle for a two-run single. The White Sox started the eighth with three hits off Chamberlain, including an RBI single by Ramirez, and a throwing error by Holaday allowed a second run to score. Holaday, though, had an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, and Davis followed with a two-out double to make it 7-4. NOTES: The Tigers announced during the game that they will be honouring Jim Leyland in a pregame ceremony before their May 10th game against Minnesota. Leyland managed the Tigers to a franchise-record four post-season appearances before retiring after last season. ... White Sox 2B Gordon Beckham made his season debut after missing the first 22 games with a strained oblique muscle. He went 0 for 4 and struck out three times. He was called up Wednesday night from his injury-rehab assignment with Double-A Birmingham, while LHP Charlie Leesman was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte. ... With Nathan trying to close out the game, fans down the right-field line started loudly booing a man in a Boston Bruins jersey. Game 4 of the Red Wings-Bruins NHL playoff series was scheduled for Thursday night at nearby Joe Louis Arena. . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City. . Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger that the team is quietly gauging interest on the Senators captain, though Spezza has a limited no-trade clause and carries a large contract. . Coaches are now allowed to challenge both called and potential defensive pass interference fouls under certain conditions. . HEROES P.K. Subban – Scored the overtime winner and assisted on Montreal’s earlier goal, both on the power play, in a 2-1 win over Nashville. . Playing in his fourth major league game, Polanco broke a tie in the 13th inning with his first homer, helping Pittsburgh to an 8-6 victory over the Miami Marlins after the Pirates had a ninth-inning meltdown.NASHVILLE -- Tennessee has signed quarterback Charlie Whitehurst to a multi-year contract in a deal that reunites him with Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt. The 31-year-old Whitehurst spent the last two years in San Diego, where Whisenhunt worked as offensive co-ordinator in 2013. The Titans announced the deal Thursday night. "He brings a familiarity with the offence we are installing," Whisenhunt said in a statement. "He will be a great resource for Jake and the entire offence. And as a player, he understands what we want to get done. Working with him over the last year and seeing how he works and his ability gives me confidence that he is the right fit to fill this role." In his career, Whitehurst is 84 of 155 for 805 yards passing with four interceptions and three touchdown passes in 13 NFL games. His likely role in Tennessee is backing up Jake Locker, who has missed 14 games due to injuries the last two years. The arrival of Whitehurst puts Ryan Fitzpatricks future with the Titans in question. Fitzpatrick signed a two-year deal last March to serve as Lockers main backup. Fitzpatrick started nine games for the Titans last season and went 217 of 350 for 2,454 yards with 14 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.dddddddddddd Fitzpatrick, also 31, has thrown for 16,790 yards, 106 touchdowns and 93 interceptions in 85 career games. Fitzpatrick has 77 career NFL starts. Whitehurst has only four career starts and has spent most of his career backing up Philip Rivers in San Diego. Whitehurst originally joined the Chargers as a third-round draft pick out of Clemson in 2006. He spent four seasons with the Chargers before getting traded to Seattle in 2010 for two draft picks. He started four games with the Seahawks, including a victory in the final week of the 2010 season that enabled the Seahawks to clinch the NFC West title. He rejoined San Diego in 2012. General manager Ruston Webster said Whitehurst not only knows a lot about Whisenhunts offence but has been around some outstanding NFL quarterbacks. "He is (a) smart guy with a good arm, and he will add to our offensive group as a veteran quarterback," Webster said. Whitehurst is the son of former NFL player David Whitehurst, who played quarterback for the Green Bay Packers from 1977-83. ' ' '
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