Miggy stays hot with three-run homer off Cueto

CINCINNATI -- Major League Baseball's All-Stars will gather here in four weeks. Miguel Cabrera continues to make his case to be in the starting lineup. This time, he did it by nearly sending a ball towards Kentucky and opening up the heavens in the process. in the Tigers' 8-4, extra-innings loss to the Reds on Wednesday night.

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What had been a pitching duel between Johnny Cueto and David Price on Wednesday swung with one trademark opposite-field swing from Cabrera, who sent a Cueto fastball on a line halfway up the right-field seats at Great American Ball Park for a 3-2 Tigers lead.

The ball had barely landed when the skies opened up and poured on the ballpark, bringing out the tarp for a rain delay.

The homer was Cabrera's fourth in 14 games this June, reaching base safely in 13 of those games. He has driven in a run in each of his last six games, during which he's 11-for-22 with three homers and 12 RBIs.

Cueto struck out Cabrera with a runner on second in the opening inning, getting him to chase a cutter. Cueto got on a roll from there, retiring 15 of 16 batters before Anthony Gose singled with one out in the sixth. Ian Kinsler's walk brought up Cabrera with no base to put him.

Cueto went at Cabrera with three fastballs. Cabrera shrugged off the first well off the plate, fouled off the second, then attacked the third on the outside corner, a sweet spot for his opposite-field power.