Focusing on opposite field pays off for Miggy

SAN DIEGO -- Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera has always taken batting practice with an all-fields approach, trying to slash line drives to the opposite field before pulling the ball with authority. On Saturday, however, he took it to the extreme, powering one pitch after another to right while following through on his swing with one hand on the bat.

On his first at-bat Saturday, that approach was evident. He didn't manage a hit, but his fly ball to right-center field carried to the warning track, allowing Ian Kinsler to tag up from second base and easily take third.

It was the first time in a full week that Cabrera had hit the ball to the opposite field with authority. His third-inning double his next time up was a ball he pulled into the left-field corner, but the all-fields awareness carried the rest of the evening.

"It was better," Cabrera said. "I want to use the whole field. I just had to make some adjustments to get a good at-bat."

Said manager Brad Ausmus: "I know he was working in BP on some stuff, and it definitely translated. His swing looked more Cabrera-esque."