Triple Crown Cabrera duels with Kimbrel in 3rd inning, Tigers beat Braves 2-1 in spring opener

Atlanta Braves' Freddie Freeman, center, reacts after getting the first hit of the game as Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder (28) stands near him during an exhibition baseball game, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, in Kissimmee, Fla. Braves first base coach Terry Pendleton is right. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (The Associated Press)

Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera hits a fly ball during an exhibition baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, in Kissimmee, Fla. Cabrera was out on the play. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (The Associated Press)

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Detroit's Miguel Cabrera got a chance to duel with Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel — in the third inning.

Coming off baseball's first Triple Crown season since 1967, Cabrera grounded out against Kimbrel before finishing his day with a drive to the warning track in center field, not a factor as Detroit won 2-1 Friday in the first exhibition game of the year between big league teams.

Justin and B.J. Upton made their Atlanta spring training debuts. Both went 0 for 2.

The Tigers were hitless through seven innings but wwent ahead in the eighth, long after the starters had departed. Tyler Collins tripled to right-center off Ryan Buchter, and Jeff Kobernus followed with another triple to nearly the same spot. Hernan Perez's sacrifice fly brought home Kobernus.

Joey Terdoslavich homered for Atlanta in the ninth.