DETROIT _ Mike Minor makes it look easy.
The Texas Rangers ace threw his second complete game to stifle the Detroit Tigers, 4-1, Wednesday night at Comerica Park.
Minor last threw a complete game against the Angels on April 16.
Against the Tigers, Minor outlasted Tigers' left-hander Matthew Boyd, who struck out 11 Rangers in seven innings.
The Rangers homered three times in the fifth against Boyd to build more than enough of a lead for Minor, who struck out seven.
In the ninth, the first two batters reached on a single and walk but Minor got Brandon Dixon swinging with a fastball and induced a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Willie Calhoun, Jeff Mathis and Danny Santana each hit solo homers in the fifth inning to push the lead to 4-1. It's the first time the Rangers have hit three homers in a game since May 20.
The last time Texas hit three homers in an inning was Sept 2, 2018 against the Twins in Arlington. The last time Texas did it on the road was Sept. 19, 2013 at Tampa Bay.
The Rangers had struggled to put together much power for the last month. Until the fifth inning on Wednesday. In fact, they had hit two or fewer homers in 34 consecutive games (May 21-June 25) until hitting three in one inning against the Tigers. That's their longest such stretch in a season since they went the final 49 games in 2014 with two or fewer homers in a game.
Calhoun scored on a sacrifice fly from second base in the third inning. Ronald Guzman's deep drive forced center fielder JaCoby Jones up against the wall and Calhoun took advantage. He was rounding third before shortstop Niko Goodrum received the relay throw in shallow center. His throw home was way off and Calhoun scored easily to give Texas a 1-0 lead. Calhoun had two doubles and a homer on Wednesday.
