Miguel Cabrera was in the midst of his worst slump since his rookie season, hitless in his last 22 at bats, but he broke out of it in a much needed way on Tuesday night. Cabrera knocked in the game-winning run on a single in the top of the 8th inning, his second hit of the game, to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Octavio Dotel picked up the win by working a scoreless inning, although he put two runners on in the bottom half of the seventh. He came in to relieve rookie Drew Smyly, who tossed another strong outing in just his second big league start. Smyly gave up just one unearned run in six innings of work while striking out four and walking one. Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his second save of the season.
Prince Fielder, who had two hits, knocked in the insurance run for the Tigers and Ramon Santiago had the team's first RBI in the game.
The Tigers will close out their three-game series with the Royals Wednesday night at 8:10 p.m. ET.
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