Apr 23, 2022

  • Marly RiveraESPN Writer

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      Marly Rivera is a writer for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com.

With a unmarried against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday, Miguel Cabrera became the 33rd member of the iii,000-hit society and but the seventh player in major league history to achieve the milestone and striking 500 dwelling runs.

He got No. 3,000 in the start inning against bullpen Antonio Senzatela, a fellow Venezuelan, by grounding an opposite-field unmarried to right field.

Cabrera immediately raised his right arm as he headed toward first base. The crowd of 37,566 at Comerica Park gave him a rousing ovation and chanted "Miggy! Miggy!" while fireworks were shot out of the scoreboard. Rockies shortstop Jose Iglesias, who played with Cabrera on the Tigers, came over to requite his former teammate a big hug.

By and so, all the Tigers were streaming from the dugout to greet the newest member of baseball's aristocracy 3,000-hitting club. Moments later, Cabrera went behind home plate to embrace his mother, wife, son and girl on the field.

"Special numbers," Cabrera said after the game. "It's like something crazy you can't depict. To exist in this position, I always say thank God for giving me this opportunity."

Cabrera soon returned to offset base but didn't stay there long. He scored on a three-run homer by 22-twelvemonth-erstwhile rookie Spencer Torkelson, who has taken over as the Tigers' regular outset baseman with Cabrera in the role of designated hitter.

When the inning ended, the scoreboard flashed "Congratulations Miggy" and Cabrera emerged from the dugout to wave to fans who had been rewarded with the highlight they came to meet.

"It brings a lot of memories from the first time I was here in Detroit," Cabrera said of the crowd. "I remember we always had 35,000, xl,000 people every night. Information technology was good to meet the fans come back to the stadium similar that. It was very emotional. I know what the fans mean to our games and to our team considering they support us a lot. I really happy to come across all the fans."

Cabrera added a two-run single in the 6th inning before being replaced by pinch runner Eric Haase. The Tigers went on to win 13-0. Cabrera said information technology meant "a lot" for him to achieve the milestone in a win.

"Because I always say, if we're winning, I know the results are going to be good," he said. "Nosotros did it today, I'm pretty happy.

Later reaching ii,999 hits Wednesday, Cabrera was 0-for-iii on Th confronting the New York Yankees. He was intentionally walked in the 8th inning, his fourth and final plate appearance of the game. Cabrera'due south pursuit of history was delayed Fri, equally the Tigers' scheduled serial opener against the Rockies was rained out, made up as part of a Sabbatum doubleheader.

The 39-year-old is the first Venezuelan-born histrion and 7th Latino to reach the 3,000-hitting marking, a list that includes Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente and Rod Carew too equally Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, Adrian Beltre and Albert Pujols. Luis Aparicio, the only Venezuelan-born player in the Hall of Fame, had ii,677 career hits.

"When you're going through it, you lot've got to kind of try to appreciate it because his impact is so big across this organization and across so many players, that nosotros just got to sit back and soak it upwards," Tigers director A.J. Hinch said. "And I recall for him as a person, equally a player who'south gone through ups, downs, everywhere in between. This is certainly a highlight."

Cabrera, who won the Triple Crown and the beginning of dorsum-to-back MVP awards in 2012, became the 28th member of the 500-habitation run club in August. Only six other players have three,000 hits and 500 homers: Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Palmeiro, Pujols, Rodriguez and Eddie Murray.

Cabrera's Triple Crown win in 2012, having led the American League in batting average, home runs and RBIs, was the start in 45 years. The eleven-fourth dimension All-Star has won iv batting titles in his career.

Cabrera was 20 years quondam when he made his major league debut with the Marlins in 2003. He helped them win the Globe Serial that yr.

The Tigers acquired Cabrera in a 2007 trade, with Dontrelle Willis also going to Detroit in a deal for Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin. Cabrera had 842 hits at the fourth dimension.

He is the third actor to get his 3,000th hit while with Detroit, joining Ty Cobb and Al Kaline.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.