Miguel Cabrera doubled in a pair of runs to jump start a five-run first inning, as the Tigers went on to rough up the Rangers 8-to-2 last night in Arlington, where the game-time temperature was 100 degrees. Cabrera doubled twice and knocked in three as part of a three-hit night, while Jhonny Peralta drove in two for Detroit in the opener of a 3-game series.

Rick Porcello struck out seven over six innings of one-run ball to even his mark at 5-and-5 in the rematch of last year’s American League Championship series.

The Tigers picked on Justin Grimm, who was making his second career start and rocked him for six runs in just one plus inning. Last weekend when Detroit lost 2 of 3 at Pittsburgh, they scored only five runs in the series on 15-hits.

Drew Smyly comes off the disabled list to start tonight for the Tigers. The lefty has been out for 2 weeks with a blister on his left middle finger. Last night’s victory allowed Detroit to gain ground on the two leaders in the American League Central.

The first place White Sox lost 4-to-1 at Minnesota while the Yankees beat the second place Indians.  The third place Tigers trail the White Sox by two games and are a game-and-a-half behind Cleveland.