DETROIT – Rajai Davis hit a three-run home run following a 34-minute, fourth-inning rain delay and Torii Hunter added a solo shot one out later Friday to help the Detroit Tigers improve their record to 3-0 with a 10-4 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
In that game, Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera became just the ninth player in Major League history to reach 2,000 hits before the age of 31.
Cabrera had four hits, including an RBI single in the seventh and a two-run home run in the eighth, his first RBI of the season.
Lefty Drew Smyly (1-0), just shifted to the bullpen due to the combination of a rainout plus days off coming up, earned the victory for three innings of one-hit shutout relief.
Detroit starting right-hander Anibal Sanchez was lifted after throwing 69 pitches prior to the delay with the Tigers leading, 3-2.
Play had been halted by rain following singles by third baseman Nick Castellanos and shortstop Andrew Romine beginning the fourth. After the delay, left fielder Davis swatted a changeup over the left-field fence, and one out later right fielder Hunter likewise hit a changeup out of the park for a 7-2 Detroit lead.
Both home runs came off starting right-handed pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (0-1), who allowed nine hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Baltimore had taken a 2-0 lead on a two-run double by first baseman Chris Davis in the opening inning.
Castellanos drove in the first run of his Major League career with a single in the second. Detroit tied the score when second baseman Ian Kinsler singled to center, and it took the lead, 3-2, on a bases-loaded wild pitch.
Southpaw Ian Krol worked a scoreless eighth. Right-hander Joba Chamberlain pitched the ninth for Detroit and allowed two runs on an RBI triple by catcher Steve Clevenger plus an RBI single by third baseman Jonathan Schoop.
NOTES: Detroit and Kansas City will make up their rained-out game from Thursday at 1:08 p.m. on June 19, previously an open date for both clubs following a three-game series they play at Comerica Park. … Manager Buck Showalter made a couple of lineup changes for Baltimore in its first game in Detroit. C Matt Wieters was given his first day off and SS J.J. Hardy was out of the lineup with light back spasms. The Orioles had a night game with Boston on Thursday and arrived late in Detroit. .. Manager Brad Ausmus of Detroit lost his first challenge in three tries this season. He was denied on his appeal that SS Andrew Romine did not error on a throw from 2B Ian Kinsler in the fifth inning. … 1B Chris Davis of the Orioles entered Friday’s game hitting .394 (13-for-33) against the Tigers since Aug. 18, 2012, and hit a two-run double in the first inning.