Tigers, Ryan Raburn Pound Braves, 18-3; Brandon Allen Slams Cubs with 7 RBI

Players of the Day for Sunday, March 4, 2012

Grapefruit League

Raburn: GS, 5 RBI

Sure, it's just the first week of the exhibition season, but the Atlanta Braves might want to take a serious look at their pitching staff.

For the Detroit Tigers, on the other hand, they should have few issues in the power department after bashing nine home runs and 19 hits off seven Atlanta throwers in an 18-3 blowout. Six of the Tiger homers came off Julio Teheran, who is looking to become a Braves starter.

Prince Fielder got his first homer as a Tiger - a solo shot - and Ryan Raburn socked a pair of bombs, including a grand slam and drove in five runs.

The Tigers were already up 11-1 before Atlanta scored a single run in the fifth. Detroit responded with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the inning.

Rayburn, who has been more or less the Tigers' regular left fielder for the past three years, batted .256 in 2011, with 14 homers and 49 RBI, though he struck out 114 times in 371 at-bats.

Allen, GS, 7 RBI

Cactus League

Oakland chalked up its second win in its first three games, out-slugging the Chicago Cubs in their Spring opener, 12-10.

Brandon Allen, a 6'3", 235-pound first baseman, drove in seven runs with a grand slam and a bases-loaded double in five at-bats.

Allen was traded from the Diamondbacks to the A's during the 2011 campaign after spending 2009 and 2010 with Arizona. The slugger displayed his raw power last season, belting 18 home runs in 52 games between the two clubs.

Despite the solid power stats, Allen still has to work on his approach, having struck out 68 times in 175 at-bats, finishing the year with just a .200 average.