Tigers’ Cabrera joins rare 3,000-hit, 500-HR club

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera recorded his 3,000th career hit with a first-inning single to right field off Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela on Saturday in Detroit’s 13-0 rout in Game 1 of a doubleheader.

Cabrera, 39, is the 33rd major league player to reach 3,000 hits and the first Venezuelan player to do so.

The future Hall of Famer also became the seventh player in major league history with both 3,000 hits and 500 homers. He joins a fraternity limited to Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Eddie Murray, Rafael Palmeiro, Albert Pujols and Alex Rodriguez.

“I was really nervous,” Cabrera said after Game 1. “I wanted to get my 3,000th hit here in Detroit because of what happened last year with 500 [home runs] on the road. This one was really special for me because I wanted to do it here for my fans here in Detroit.”

Cabrera later recorded hit No. 3,001, a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning to increase Detroit’s lead to 8-0. Cabrera was then replaced by pinch-runner Eric Haase and received a standing ovation.

The two-time American League MVP, 2012 Triple Crown winner, four-time batting champion and 11-time All-Star had three hits on Wednesday before going hitless Thursday and then seeing Friday’s series opener postponed due to rain.

He wasted no time Saturday etching his name into immortality.

Tigers chairman and CEO Christopher Ilitch praised Cabrera in a statement.

“Congratulations to Miguel Cabrera on his 3,000th career hit! Like Tigers fans, I’ve been proud to witness Miggy’s amazing and historic 3,000 hit and 500 home run milestones, putting him among a select few MLB legends,” Ilitch said. “I thank Miguel for a career of exciting, Hall of Fame caliber play towards our objective of championship baseball for Tigers fans. Miggy has and continues to build his status as one of the greatest Tigers of all-time.” Rays lose no-hit bid in 10th, stun Red Sox on walk-off

Kevin Kiermaier capped Tampa Bay’s three-run 10th inning with a game-ending homer, and the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 on Saturday night after losing their bid for a combined no-hitter in the top half of the final frame.

Matt Wisler (1-0) surrendered Boston’s first hit when Bobby Dalbec opened the 10th with a triple, driving in automatic runner Jackie Bradley Jr. for a 1-0 lead. Christian Vázquez followed with a sacrifice fly to left.

Major League Baseball rules say it doesn’t count as a no-hitter until the game ends and a team finishes with no hits.

Hansel Robles (1-1) then came in for Boston and struck out the first two Tampa Bay batters in the bottom half. But automatic runner Randy Arozarena advanced on a balk and scored when Taylor Walls reached on a throwing error by second baseman Trevor Story.

After Walls swiped second, Kiermaier drove Robles’ 3-1 pitch deep to right for his first homer of the season.

Boston finished with two hits. Tampa Bay had three.

According to ESPN, this marks the first time in baseball history that a team has lost a no-hit bid in extra innings and gone on to win in walk-off fashion. Two other teams won a game in which their no-hit bid was broken up in extra innings, but they were the road team on both occasions. (Reuters)