ARLINGTON, Texas -- With a little help from slugger Miguel Cabrera, Rick Porcello and the Detroit Tigers slowed down the Texas Rangers. Cabrera went 3 for 4 with a go-ahead double in the fifth inning to back Porcello and lift the Tigers over the Rangers 2-1 Friday night in a matchup of division leaders. Texas had scored 51 runs in its past eight games, going 7-1 in that stretch. Porcello and four relievers, however, cooled off a Rangers offence that knocked out ace Justin Verlander in the third inning Thursday night. Cabrera broke a scoreless tie with an RBI double off the wall in left that scored Andy Dirks. Cabrera scored later in the fifth to provide the Tigers with just enough offence to give manager Jim Leyland his 1,699th career victory. "We had some opportunities and we were able to score just enough runs to beat them today," Detroit catcher Alex Avila said. "And on the flip side, our guys were able to keep it at a minimum when they had opportunities. We were able to get out of big jams." Porcello (2-2) allowed one run and five hits in 5 2-3 innings with six strikeouts and a walk as the Tigers rebounded from a 10-4 loss Thursday night. The 24-year-old Porcello is 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four starts since giving up nine runs in two-thirds of an inning April 20 against the Los Angeles Angels. Detroit remained tied with the Cleveland Indians atop the AL Central. "I think Im in a little bit of a groove for sure," Porcello said. "Im getting better results now, so its nice." Joaquin Benoit escaped a first-and-third jam with one out in the eighth when he induced Nelson Cruzs double-play grounder. Cruz also bounced into a double play in the fourth when the Rangers had runners on first and second with nobody out. The Rangers, owners of the best record in the AL, went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. "You want to be up in those situations," Cruz said. "I just hope to get another chance so I come through." Jose Valverde got three groundouts around a one-out walk to Geovany Soto in the ninth, getting his fourth save in five chances this season. "You dont expect a 2-1 ballgame in this ballpark too many times," Leyland said. "Its a lightning rod and you can hit it out of here at any time." Soto homered for a second straight game, a solo shot off Porcello in the fifth that brought the Rangers within 2-1. Rookie Nick Tepesch (3-4) gave up two runs, six hits and three walks in five innings as Detroit stopped the Rangers three-game winning streak. "Detroit has a pretty good lineup," Tepesch said. "I just have to take the positives from this start and be ready for the next one." Dirks led off the fifth with a bloop single to centre and advanced to second on a groundout. Cabrera, hitting .509 (27 for 53) with runners in scoring position, lined an 0-1 pitch off the wall in left field near the out of town scoreboard for his AL-leading 42nd RBI. Cabrera scored on Avilas sacrifice fly. Cabrera nearly put Detroit ahead in the third when he singled to centre with Dirks on second base. Leonys Martin made a perfect throw to Soto at the plate for the out. NOTES: Texas RHP Alexi Ogando, placed on the DL Thursday with right biceps tendinitis, underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage. ... Texas 2B Ian Kinsler did not start because of bruised ribs after he was hit by a Verlander pitch Thursday night. Kinsler entered in the ninth as pinch runner. ... Detroits Torii Hunter is two home runs shy of 300 in his career. ... Rangers RHP Justin Miller (right elbow surgery) was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Friday night at Double-A Frisco. Marshall Faulk Jersey .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. Malik Hooker Jersey . -- Bryant McKinnie came out of his stance and lowered his shoulder into a practice squad player, causing a crisp thud to reverberate in the Miami Dolphins practice bubble. http://www.coltsfansshop.com/Colts-Matthias-Farley-Draft-Jersey/ . Thats about all he can do right now, so hes trying not to think about when he might be able to play again for the Los Angeles Lakers. Ryan Kelly Jersey . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Braden Smith Jersey . LOUIS -- Heading into the final stretch of the season, the issues for the Chicago Bears banged-up defence only seem to be getting worse. Last year, the two worst divisions in the NFL were clearly the AFC South and the NFC East. But those two divisions have gone in very different directions this year.The AFC South is still terrible. Every team in the division ranks 20th or lower in the Football Outsiders DVOA ratings, and all four teams average fewer than 7.5 wins in our 50,000 simulations this week. The AFC South champion now goes 8-8 or worse in 40 percent of simulations and has a losing record 9.1 percent of the time. An AFC South team wins the Super Bowl in just 1.3 percent of simulations, which gives the entire division worse Super Bowl odds than 13 different teams.On the other hand, the NFC East has been outstanding this year. Defense has improved in Washington, New York, and especially Philadelphia. Meanwhile, Dallas has the best offense in the league thanks to great performances from two rookies, quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. Every team in the NFC East has a winning record right now, and all four teams are also above-average in DVOA. This week, we end up with every NFC East team finishing 8-8 or better in 42.5 percent of simulations. The entire division has a winning record in 12.2 percent of simulations, roughly a 1-in-8 chance.And yet ... the NFC East may not be the best division in the game. The AFC West has three teams with winning records and the underrated 3-4 San Diego Charrgers.dddddddddddd AFC West teams also get easier schedules than their NFC East counterparts, which mean there are even better odds of the whole division finishing with a winning record. The AFC West has every team at 8-8 or better in 47.8 percent of simulations, and every team has a winning record in 14.7 percent of simulations.?Once again, were doing our weekly run through the playoff odds for all 32 teams in the NFL. For a full explanation on how we calculate each teams playoff odds,?see the bottom of the article.AFC PLAYOFF PREDICTIONSFAVORITES1. New England Patriots (6-1)Odds of making playoffs: 95.7 percentThe Patriots have climbed from 13th to third in offensive DVOA since Tom Bradys return three weeks ago. They now have the best record in the NFL and are clearly in the drivers seat for home-field advantage. The Patriots take the No. 1 seed in over half our simulations (55.7 percent) and get a first-round bye 78 percent of the time. The biggest thing standing between the Patriots and a top-two seed isnt Denver or Pittsburgh; its a Buffalo surge that would knock them into a wild-card spot. If the Patriots beat Buffalo this week, their odds of getting the No. 1 seed go up to 70.3 percent and their odds of a first-round bye increase to 93.4 percent. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '