Texas gets 11-8 victory

ARLINGTON (AP) — Rookie Taylor Teagarden is supposed to be more of a defensive catcher. However, it's the power he's displayed during his brief stay in the majors that has the Texas Rangers fired up about his future.

Teagarden hit his first career grand slam and had a career-high five RBIs, Michael Young hit a tiebreaking single and the Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers 11-8 on Monday night.

Texas (74-77) hosts Detroit again tonight, a 7 p.m. start.

"I think it's great for his confidence, especially when he comes with a tag that he's not supposed to be an offensive player," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I just hope he keeps it up as long as there are games on the schedule."

Teagarden, a member of the bronze medal U.S. Olympic team, has six homers and 17 RBIs in 12 major league games this season.

Teagarden, batting ninth, hit his bases-loaded homer in the sixth to rally Texas from a 5-3 deficit to a 7-5 lead.

"I'm seeing the ball well," Teagarden said. "(Washington) is giving me a chance to get a lot of at-bats, sticking me in the 9 hole where I can see a lot of pitches. I'm just trying to take advantage of it."

Detroit carried an 8-7 edge into the eighth, but Texas took the lead against Kyle Farnsworth (2-3) on Teagarden's RBI double and Young's go-ahead single.

Marlon Byrd's two-run triple later in the eighth extended Texas' advantage to 11-8, sending Detroit to its fifth straight defeat.

Placido Polanco's eighth-inning RBI single off Frank Francisco had given the Tigers an 8-7 lead.

Francisco (3-5) got the final out in the eighth, then worked the ninth for the decision.

Gary Sheffield hit his 497th career homer for Detroit.

Dontrelle Willis pitched five innings in his long-awaited return to the Tigers rotation, leaving with a 4-3 lead.

Willis allowed three runs and two hits with four strikeouts, but gave up five walks and is still seeking his first win for the Tigers.

Detroit acquired Willis and infielder Miguel Cabrera from the Florida Marlins last December in a blockbuster trade that cost Detroit six prospects.

Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy left in the first inning with a strained flexor tendon in his right middle finger. McCarthy got the first two outs, then began shaking his hand after delivering a pitch to Ordonez. Washington and team trainers ran the mound to check on McCarthy, who could not continue.