DETROIT — Miguel Cabrera hit his 511th home run and scored twice, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Kansas City Royals 8-0 Thursday in the completion of a suspended game.
Cabrera, who is retiring after the season, tied Mel Ott for 25th on the career home run list. The 40-year-old has 373 homers for Detroit, tying Norm Cash for second behind Al Kaline’s 399.
Play was suspended because of rain after four innings and an 80-minute wait on Wednesday night.
Miguel Díaz (1-0) pitched two innings for the win. Kansas City was held to four hits for the 25th time this season.
Detroit has pitched 14 shutouts. At 54-104, the Royals have their most losses since 2018.
Cabrera homered leading off the second against Jonathan Bowlan (0-1), a 26-year-old right-hander who allowed one run and three hits over two innings in his major league debut.
PHOTOS: Cabrera's 511th home run lifts Tigers over Royals 8-0 in completion of suspended game
“I was a lot more comfortable out there than I expected - it felt like home,” Bowlan said. “I was just zoned in and pitching like I have all my life.”
Cabrera’s homer, his fourth this season, would have hit the out-of-town scoreboard before this season’s renovations lowered the fence in right-centerfield.
“It’s meaningful, because he wants to win games,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “Is it his last homer? I don’t know, but that was vintage Miggy. That’s how he hits.”
Cabrera singled in the fourth for his 3,170th hit, took second on Andy Ibañez’s double, and scored on pinch-hitter Tyler Nevin’s three-run homer.
Detroit added two runs in the fifth on Cabrera’s bases-loaded walk and Ibañez’s RBI forceout.
Jake Rogers hit a two-run homer in the eighth off Jackson Kowar.
Parker Meadows made a leaping catch at the center-field wall for the final out, denying Nelson Velazquez .
Detroit right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (1-0, 2.40) was to start the scheduled game against left-hander Cole Ragans (7-4, 3.11).
MOTHER NATURE
Most of the completion was played in light showers, but rain grew heavier during the fourth inning. Crew chief Marvin Hudson called for the tarp after a lengthy attempt to get the field playable to start the fifth.
UP NEXT
Royals: Kansas City returns home for a series opener against the New York Yankees, who start LHP Carlos Rodón (3-7, 5.74).
Tigers: LHP Joey Wentz (3-12, 6.45) starts Friday night’s series opener at Cleveland and RHP Cal Quantrill (3-7, 5.13).
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