Rangers 5, Tigers 2
Alexi Ogando struck out seven and Michael Young tripled in a run as the Texas Rangers avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-2 victory over the host Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon.
Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz each added two hits and a run scored for the Rangers, who snapped a three-game slide and assured themselves of at least one more day in sole possession of first place in the American League West.
Brad Penny (7-9) continued his struggles for the Tigers, yielding a run in the second and three more in the fourth as the Rangers opened it up. Mike Napoli started the rally with an RBI single and Endy Chavez added a sacrifice fly before Ian Kinsler capped the frame with another run-scoring single.
Penny ended up charged with five runs - four earned - and 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings. The burly righthander did not strike out a batter for the second straight start.
Ogando (11-5) held Detroit scoreless for the first six and before yielding a pair of runs in the seventh. He has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last eight outings.
Neftali Feliz worked the ninth for his 22nd save.