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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Those Martinez sluggers in the middle of the Detroit Tigers lineup keep coming up big. Most everyone already knew about Victor. Now they are getting familiar with J.D. The unrelated players homered on consecutive pitches by different Texas pitchers in the fifth, after back-to-back doubles in a three-run first, as the AL Central-leading Tigers stretched their winning streak to six games with an 8-6 victory at Texas. "Hes been swinging the bat great, and hes a guy that has a lot of power," cleanup hitter Victor said of J.D. "Hes getting a chance to play more often, and hes been doing a lot of damage." After Victor Martinez led off the fifth with his 20th homer to chase Joe Saunders (0-4), J.D. went deep on the first pitch thrown by reliever Shawn Tolleson. "Thats how he attacked me (Tuesday). He struck me out on three straight fastballs. ... He likes to leave the ball up. Im looking for a fastball there," J.D. Martinez said. "Its never a bad plan, either, looking for a fastball up." It was his ninth homer this season, the sixth during a 14-game hitting streak that is the longest active in the majors. J.D. Martinez is hitting .418 (23 for 55) with eight doubles and 17 RBIs in that span. "Vics been swinging the bat well all year, right-handed, left-handed, you take your pick," manager Brad Ausmus said. "The thing about J.D. is his power. When he gets hot, the ball is going to travel." Victor and J.D. also had consecutive doubles when Detroit went ahead to stay with three runs in the first inning. Texas lost its seventh consecutive game, the longest current losing streak in the majors. "Its definitely hard to comprehend a seven-game losing streak, but it is what it is," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We knew why. Weve got to score some runs, and weve got to pitch better." The Rangers trailed 6-3 when left-hander Saunders left after giving up seven hits and walking five. Anibal Sanchez (5-2) struck out five and allowed four runs in 5 1-3 innings. The right-hander is 5-0 in his eight starts since coming off the disabled list May 18 after missing three weeks with a cut on his right middle finger. Joe Nathan, the Texas closer the last two seasons before leaving in free agency, gave up a run in the ninth before clinching his 16th save in 21 chances. Carlos Pena homered and scored twice in his second game back with the Rangers, the team he made his major league debut for in 2001 before being traded the following winter. Detroits first five hits were for extra bases before Torii Hunters RBI single in the third made it 5-0. Rajai Davis led off the game with a triple into the right-centre gap. Ian Kinsler then walked on four pitches and Miguel Cabrera had a sacrifice fly before the consecutive Martinez doubles. Kinsler and Cabrera had consecutive doubles to start the third. Texas scored three times in the fourth, which started when Shin-Soo Choo singled before Adrian Beltres RBI double. Pena singled and came home on a single by Robinson Chirinos. Texas rookie second baseman Rougned Odor struck out for the third time in the eighth, but made it to the third base after a wild pitch and a throwing error by catcher Bryan Holaday. Odor was initially called out sliding into third base by umpire Tim Welke even as the ball rolled free, but the umpiring crew conferred and changed the call to safe without a replay. NOTES: The Rangers are a season-high 12 1-2 games behind Oakland in the AL West, their largest deficit since the end of the 2008 season. ... The Rangers are 16-21 at home, where they have lost six of their last seven. ... When Pena homered in the sixth, the ball landed in a pan of brisket set up in a seating area in the right-field corner. Brett Hull Jersey . His chance at winning a Stanley Cup in Philadelphia is over. Same with Jeff Carter. And Brian Boucher. Throw in Ville Leino and Dan Carcillo. Pavel Datsyuk Jersey . Chelsea took until the second half to trouble the leagues bottom team, but Schuerrle then ripped through the defence with ease at Craven Cottage to keep Jose Mourinhos side on track for the title. http://www.redwingshockeyauthentic.com/brendan-shanahan-jersey/ . -- Chris Crawford hit a 3-pointer with 1:36 left to put Memphis ahead to stay, and the 21st-ranked Tigers beat seventh-ranked Louisville 72-66 Saturday, sweeping the season series from the Cardinals. Kris Draper Jersey .L. - Defending womens champion Alberta improved to 3-0 at the Canadian junior curling championships with a 10-3 win over Ontario in Sundays afternoon draw. Alex Delvecchio Jersey . Listen to the Raptors vs. Jazz live tonight on TSN Radio 1050 at 9pm et/6pm pt. The Raptors are 1-1 so far on the five-game junket after defeating Denver and losing to Portland.NEW YORK -- If the pitching-depleted New York Yankees plan to make a second-half charge, they will need several specific contributions the rest of the way: Big hits from Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran. Steady starts from David Phelps and a makeshift rotation. Maybe a little more punch from No. 3 batter Jacoby Ellsbury. First game after the All-Star break? Check, check, check. Ellsbury hit a two-run homer, Phelps pitched into the seventh inning, and the Yankees beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Friday night. "Big win for us to start the second half," Ellsbury said. "You always want to play well at home. You should play well at home. I think were going to." McCann and Beltran had two-out RBIs for the Yankees (48-47), who began a 10-game homestand by winning the opener of an interleague series against a National League contender. New York, with a major league-high 40 home games after the break, snapped a five-game losing streak at Yankee Stadium and improved to 19-23 in its ballpark. All-Star reliever Dellin Betances struck out three in 1 2-3 perfect innings, and David Robertson worked a one-hit ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances. "A week off always helps," Betances said. "I just felt like maybe I had a little more power." Phelps (4-4) gave up three runs -- two earned -- in 6 1-3 innings against a lineup missing injured thumpers Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one for his first win since June 19 against Toronto, which preceded four straight no-decisions. Phelps is 3-0 in seven outings since a four-game skid, and he has yielded two earned runs or fewer in six of those seven starts. "Regardless of what the rotation looks like, I pride myself on being consistent," he said. "Thats one thing Ive always strived for in the big leagues and even in the minor leagues. When our rotation does take hits, I kind of put (it) on myself to step up." It was the kind of effort New York needs from the unheralded fill-ins in its injury-ravaged rotation. Before the game, general manager Brian Cashman announced that left-hander CC Sabathia is scheduled for surgery on his right knee Wednesday -- ending any hope of him returning this year. "We need everybody to step up," Ellsbury said. Brayan Pena, subbing for Votto at first base, homered twice for the Reds.dddddddddddd Mike Leake (7-8) allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings. "It was not as sharp as he has been, but he competed well and gave us a chance," manager Bryan Price said. "We just caught a guy who was a little bit better today." With the score tied 2-all, Derek Jeter singled to start the fifth, and Ellsbury lined a 1-1 pitch to the short porch in right field for his seventh home run. "It was a cutter that backed up, but it was still decent location," Leake said. "He was able to drop his hands and hurt me." Brett Gardner was hit on the left foot by Leakes third pitch. Shaken up a bit, he was checked by manager Joe Girardi and a trainer before remaining in the game. Gardner stole second and scored on McCanns two-out double. McCann is 16 for 45 (.356) in his last 11 games, raising his batting average 19 points to .239. "Ive been feeling pretty good at the plate the last 10-12 games, so hopefully I can keep that up and drive in some runs," he said. Jeters leadoff single in the third deflected off third baseman Todd Frazier. Ellsbury also singled before Beltran, just activated from the seven-day concussion list, came through with a two-out single. Pena connected off Phelps to start the third and seventh for his first multihomer game. Cincinnati tied it at 2 in the fourth, capitalizing on errors by Brian Roberts at second base and Jeter at shortstop. Devin Mesoraco had an RBI grounder, but Phelps prevented further damage. "Hes been doing great," Betances said. "Hes given us a chance to win every time he goes out. Hes done an awesome job, and today was a great win -- a great team win." NOTES: Cincinnati will start All-Star pitchers in the final two games of the series. RHP Alfredo Simon (12-3, 2.70 ERA) goes Saturday, when RHP Brandon McCarthy makes his home debut for the Yankees. RHP Johnny Cueto (10-6, 2.13) faces New York RHP Hiroki Kuroda (6-6, 4.10) on Sunday. ... Jeter made his 2,610th career start at shortstop, passing Omar Vizquel for the most in major league history. ... The Yankees announced they will honour Jeter during a ceremony before their Sept. 7 home game against Kansas City. Jeter is retiring after this season. ... Beltran also beat the shift with a check-swing double down the third-base line. ' ' '