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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Miguel Cabrera belted three home runs Sunday night.

The Tigers still could've used a couple more from him.

Cabrera tormented Texas pitchers by matching a career high with three homers, but the Tigers still couldn't hold off the red-hot Texas Rangers in a 11-8 loss at Rangers Ballpark.

Cabrera's three homers combined to travel an estimated 1,250 feet, but it wasn't enough to catch the homer-happy Rangers, who took three of four from the slumping Tigers.

"I know we got the loss and he'll tell you that he doesn't care what he did -- he cares about the win," outfielder Torii Hunter said. "But at the same time, individually, pretty impressive, man. He could've won this game by himself."

But poor pitching late in the game spoiled his big night.

The Rangers sent 26 batters to the plate in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and combined to score eight runs and overcome two early deficits.

"We just made some horrible pitches late in the game," manager Jim Leyland said. "Horrible pitches."

It was the fourth loss in five games for the Tigers, who dropped two games behind the division-leading Indians. Detroit has now lost nine of 12 since winning nine of 10.

"These guys fought tooth and nail in this series," Leyland said. "I have no problem with this series, other than the fact that we lost three of four."

KEY TO THE GAME

Adrian Beltre's two-out, two-run bloop double in the fifth inning off Doug Fister proved to be a game-changer. It slipped out of Jhonny Peralta's glove and landed just inside of the left-field line.

Leyland met with third-base umpire Mike Muchlinski to argue the play, but replays showed it to be the correct call.

"I was hoping it was a foul ball," Leyland said. "A couple guys were acting like it was foul so I wanted to question it."

It was one of nine hits Fister allowed in 4 2/3 innings, his second-shortest start this year. He gave up a season-high five runs, all earned, after allowing only one in four innings.

TIGERS HIGHLIGHTS

-- Trailing 1-0, Cabrera delivered a three-run, opposite-field shot to right-center in the third inning off Holland that gave the Tigers a two-run lead. It traveled an estimated 441 feet.

-- The reigning AL MVP struck again in the fifth with a screaming homer to straightaway center that hit the top of the wall and bounced over. Holland threw both hands in the air to try and avoid the comebacker. Instead, it cleared the wall in center -- a 403-foot shot.

-- His third homer came in the eighth inning when he sent an inside fastball to the grassy knoll beyond the center-field wall. He joined Bobby Higginson, Cecil Fielder and Rocky Colavito as only Tigers with multiple three-homer games.

-- With two home runs already to his credit, Cabrera was intentionally walked with two outs in the sixth inning to load the bases. And Prince Fielder made them pay for it. Fielder cleared the bases with a double to deep center that gave the Tigers a 7-5 lead. Prior to at-bat, Fielder was hitting .214 with 29 strikeouts in 30 games.

-- With his third home run, Cabrera, who is hitting .509 with runners in scoring position, passed Hank Greenberg with 332 on the all-time home run list. He passed McAuliffe for 11th place in franchise history with second home run. It was No. 193 with the Tigers.

-- Cabrera's .387 batting average is tops in baseball. He's ranked No. 1 in RBIs with 47 and he's now one home run shy of matching the league lead. He finished the series 9-for-16 with three homers and two doubles.

TIGERS LOWLIGHTS

-- Tigers rookie Jose Ortega had a night to forget. Ortega entered in the sixth and promptly gave up four runs on five hits to watch Detroit's 7-5 lead quickly turn into a 9-7 deficit.

-- David Murphy led the Rangers' charge with a three-run homer in the sixth. Mitch Moreland added an insurance run with a bases-loaded single to give Texas a 9-7 lead.

-- The Tigers threatened to score in the second, but Matt Tuiasosopo was thrown out at home trying to score from third on Brayan Pena's grounder to second. It was the seventh time a Tigers runner had been thrown out at the plate, tying five other teams for most in the majors. Avisail Garcia then struck out to strand runners on the corners.

OTHER GAME NOTES

-- Andy Dirks made a wall-crashing catch in straightaway center to rob Geovany Soto of an extra-base hit with two outs and the bases loaded in the sixth inning. It potentially saved three runs and ended a string of six straight Rangers reaching base.

-- It was Cabrera's 27th career multi-homer and his second this season. It's the second time he's hit three homers in a game. He did it May 28, 2010 against Oakland in Detroit. He finished 4-for-4 with five RBIs and an intentional walk.

-- Tuiasosopo went 0-for-1, but drew a career-high four walks.

-- Like Fister, Holland was lifted after just 4 2/3 innings -- his shortest start of the year. He gave up eight hits and four runs with three walks and six strikeouts.

-- Second baseman Ian Kinsler was placed on the 15-day disabled list with bruised ribs, and the Rangers called up top prospect Jurickson Profar was brought up from Triple-A.

-- Rangers closer Joe Nathan issued a leadoff walk, but retired the next three batters he faced to earn his 13th save. He has saved all 36 career opportunities against Detroit.

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