Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (L) and pitcher Jose Valverde celebrate after the Tigers defeated the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the MLB American League Championship Series baseball playoffs in Detroit, October 11, 2011.MIKE CASSESE/Reuters
THE STORY: The Detroit Tigers attempt to even up the American League Championship Series when they host the Texas Rangers in Wednesday's Game 4. Detroit matched a franchise postseason record by slugging three homers in Tuesday's 5-2 victory that cut the Rangers' deficit to 2-1. Miguel Cabrera hit one of the homers and had a fifth-inning double that gave the Tigers the lead for good. The Detroit victory ensures that probable AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander will get another start in the series. Verlander will pitch in Thursday's Game 5.
TV: 4:19 p.m. ET, Fox.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Matt Harrison (14-9, 3.39 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.75 ERA)
Harrison struck out nine in five innings while beating Tampa Bay in the clinching game of the AL Division Series. He went 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in two starts against Detroit this season and is 1-4 with a 6.89 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts). Ryan Raburn is 8-for-12 with two homers, two doubles and seven RBIs against Harrison.
Porcello pitched two perfect innings of relief in Game 1. He lost to the New York Yankees in the ALDS when he gave up four runs and five hits in six innings. Porcello beat the Rangers in June when he allowed one run in six innings. He is 1-1 with a 6.30 ERA in two career outings against Texas. David Murphy is 4-for-6 with a homer against Porcello.
ABOUT THE TIGERS: Victor Martinez and Jhonny Peralta also homered Tuesday. Martinez suffered a strained intercostal muscle in his side on the homer swing but insists he will play Wednesday. Austin Jackson broke out of a deep postseason slump with three hits and an RBI. Jackson was 3-for-25 with 14 strikeouts. Jackson is 5-for-10 in his career against Harrison. Alex Avila is batting .069 in 29 postseason at-bats, but is 4-for-4 with a homer against Harrison.
ABOUT THE RANGERS: Adrian Beltre fouled a pitch off his left knee Tuesday. X-rays were negative and showed only a bruise and Beltre is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday. Yorvit Torrealba had three hits in his first start of the series. Michael Young went hitless and is batting .083 in the ALCS and is just 3-for-27 in the postseason. Koji Uehara allowed Cabrera's homer for the only run allowed by the Texas bullpen in 15 innings in the series.
FINAL PITCH: Tuesday's loss drops Texas' record to an AL-worst 23-35 at Comerica Park since the Tigers moved into the facility in 2000.