Tigers 5, Rangers 4
Doug Fister pitched seven strong innings in his Tigers debut and Alex Avila homered for the second straight game to spark Detroit to a 5-4 victory over the visiting Texas Rangers on Wednesday.
Ryan Raburn added a solo blast and Miguel Cabrera doubled in a run for the Tigers, who have won three straight and four of five.
Fister (4-12), who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners along with reliever David Pauley last week, scattered eight hits and three runs - two earned. The righthander threw 73 of his 99 pitches for strikes and induced 16 groundouts in his first win since May 30.
Avila snapped a 3-3 tie in the sixth with his solo homer off Matt Harrison (9-8).
Raburn provided insurance with his homer in the eighth - a run that proved to be important when Mike Napoli hit a solo blast for the Rangers in the ninth.
Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his 30th save.