KANSAS CITY -- Miguel Cabrera's return to the Tigers lineup Thursday afternoon was short-lived. The slugger left their series opener against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium with a right hamstring strain.
Cabrera missed the previous three games because of what the Tigers termed a left biceps spasm last Sunday at Baltimore. Manager Ron Gardenhire waited most of Thursday morning before finalizing his lineup. A sore ankle for Victor Martinez gave Gardenhire the designated hitter slot to use for Cabrera.
Cabrera was again shaking his arm on a swing-and-miss in the sixth inning, but he stayed in to hit an infield single, a solid liner that skipped off shortstop Alcides Escobar to put runners at first and second with one out.