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Sports

Fister hopes for better results versus Rangers

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

Doug Fister hopes to find better success this season against the Texas Rangers, as the Detroit Tigers conclude their four-game set against them at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Fister enters Sunday with a 5-1 record and 3.06 ERA, but he surrendered nine runs over 4 1/3 innings in his lone start against Texas last season. For his career, Fister is 2-4 with a 5.61 ERA in seven starts.

The 29- year old right-hander bounced back from a loss to the Nationals by limiting Houston to two runs over seven innings to collect a winning decision on Tuesday.

Detroit will need a good showing from Fister as it tries to slow down the Rangers' offense. Elvis Andrus had a career-high five hits to go with three runs scored and two RBI to lift the Rangers to a 7-2 win on Saturday.

"He had a good night tonight," praised Rangers manager Ron Washington. "He stayed up in the big part of the field. We certainly needed that."

Andrus had a double, triple and also stole two bags as Texas won for the fourth time in its last five contests to up its record to a major league-best 28-15. Lance Berkman went 2-for-4 with two RBI while Mitch Moreland hit his 10th home run of the season in the triumph.

The damage could have been much worse as Texas hit 4-for-17 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base. The Rangers were able to send Anibal Sanchez to the showers early by producing nine hits and six runs off of the Tigers' starter.

Both of the Tigers' runs came in the third inning as Torii Hunter drove in a run with a double to right and scored on Prince Fielder's RBI single.

Miguel Cabrera is now batting an MLB-leading .373 after going 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to six games on Saturday. The reigning league MVP is already building a strong resume to be considered for the award again as he has tallied eight homers and 42 RBI. Cabrera is a big part of why Detroit leads the MLB in batting average (.278) and on base percentage (.346).

Derek Holland will get the nod for Texas as it tries to win the series. The Rangers' southpaw took a no decision from his last start after giving up four runs in 5 2/3 innings versus Oakland.

"He wasn't putting the ball in the same spots he had been," manager Ron Washington said. "I don't know if he lost his focus, but he just wasn't in tune with the game anymore. It looked like it almost got out of control for him."

Holland submitted four scoreless innings of work to begin the game before giving up two small-ball runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Still, he is 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA in three home starts on the season.

Texas still holds a 6 1/2 game lead over Oakland for first place in the AL West. The Tigers are one game behind Cleveland for first place in the AL Central after losing seven of their last 11 games.