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| Joe Mauer has the best chance of standing in the way of Miguel Cabrera's batting crown. (AP) |
While the Tigers didn't win on Friday, Miguel Cabrera widened his lead in the race for the American League batting title. And that's what really counts, right?
Cabrera went 2-for-4 against the Twins while watching his closes competition, Joe Mauer, go hitless in two at-bats.
So, let's check out the Triple Crown scoreboard …
Batting average
Cabrera, .327
Mauer, .322
Mike Trout, .321
Derek Jeter, .317
Trout went 2-for-5 with a triple and a homer, but that only raised his average by a point. Jeter's 1-for-6 performance might have dropped him from any chance of unseating Cabrera. Cabrera is 3-for-10 with a homer in his career against the Twins' Saturday starter, P.J. Walters. It would appears Mauer's task on Saturday is a little tougher; he'll face Justin Verlander. But Mauer has hit .364/.462/.582 with three homers in his career against the Tigers ace.
Home runs
Josh Hamilton, 43
Cabrera, 42
Edwin Encarnacion, 42
Adam Dunn, 41
Curtis Granderson, 40
Hamilton has two home runs in 37 plate appearances against Saturday's starter for the Angels, Ervin Santana. Encarnacion is hitting .292/.393/.500 against Andy Pettitte but has never taken him deep.
RBI
Cabrera, 133
Hamilton, 125
Neither drove in a run on Friday.
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