Kinsler shows off power as Tigers rip Astros
3/16/2014LAKELAND, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers think Ian Kinsler can hit in several different spots in the lineup. He showed why on Saturday.
Kinsler hit his first two home runs with his new team, leading the Tigers to a 14-3 exhibition win over the Houston Astros. The second baseman went 3 for 3 with four RBIs.
"Ideally he's at the top of the lineup somewhere, but can he slide into the five hole for a couple of weeks when he's hot?" asked first-year manager Brad Ausmus, who is keeping his options open on the batting order. "He does so many things well on the bases you want him in front of the big hitters, but he's also got the ability, like today, to drive runs in. So he can be used in a lot of places."
The Tigers traded Prince Fielder to Texas for Kinsler, but he doesn't expect to replace Fielder's home runs all by himself.
"[Home runs] look cool, but the goal in this clubhouse is to win a World Series, and the way you win a World Series is to score more runs than anybody else," Kinsler said.
Kinsler spent his first eight seasons with the Rangers, batting .273 with 156 homers and 539 RBIs. He had 31 homers and 31 steals in 2009, and then put up another 30-30 season in 2011, when he had a career-high 32 homers and 30 steals. He has swiped at least 11 bags each year in the majors.
"Today I hit fifth. I've done that a couple times this spring," Kinsler said. "He's also led me off. So we'll see opening day."
Kinsler came to camp about 12 pounds lighter than his listed playing weight of 200, but he said that won't affect his power. He's not going to swing for the fences anyway.
"If it happens, it happens," he said. "My concern is to be able to add something, and to do whatever it takes to help the team win. I'm not really concerned with hitting home runs."
Max Scherzer pitched 4 2/3 innings for Detroit, giving up three runs and five hits, including Robbie Grossman's first spring homer.
"I wasn't as sharp today," the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner said. "This is an outing I get to learn a lot from. It's good to get battle-tested in the spring, have starts like this where they're hitting you around. It forces you to keep on the attack."
Houston starter Lucas Harrell gave up 12 hits and nine earned runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Tyler Collins, who had three of Detroit's 18 hits, tripled in the second inning and homered in the seventh.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, INDIANS 2: At Goodyear, Ariz., Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer and an RBI double to back Patrick Corbin's solid tuneup for opening day in Arizona’s win over the Indians on Saturday.
Corbin struck out seven and walked none in 6 1/3 innings, his final outing before starting the season opener on Saturday in Australia against Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The left-hander limited Cleveland to two runs — none earned — on 10 hits.
The Indians designated this a bullpen day, using seven pitchers.
Mike Aviles went 3 for 3 with an RBI double for Cleveland.