Rangers 7, Tigers 3 (11)
Nelson Cruz belted a three-run homer after Mike Napoli had delivered the go-ahead single in the top of the 11th inning and the Texas Rangers recorded a 7-3 victory over the host Detroit Tigers on Wednesday to take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series.
Cruz’s fourth homer of the series came against closer Jose Valverde (0-1) and gives the Rangers a chance to clinch the best-of-seven series Thursday when they face Tigers ace Justin Verlander in Game 5 in Detroit.
Josh Hamilton began the 11th with a double and Adrian Beltre was walked intentionally before Napoli’s one-out single.
Cruz followed with a mammoth homer over the left-center field fence. Cruz also was the hero of Game 2 he hit the first walk-off grand slam – also in the 11th inning – in postseason history.
Scott Feldman (1-0) pitched a scoreless 10th and Neftali Feliz finished up in a non-save situation to move Texas within one win of a return trip to the World Series.
Detroit’s Brandon Inge homered in the seventh to tie the score at 3-3. The Tigers had a chance to take the lead in the eighth on Delmon Young’s fly ball to right field, but Miguel Cabrera was gunned down at the plate on a one-hop throw by Cruz.
Cabrera hit a two-run double off the left-center field fence in the third. Texas responded with three runs in the sixth courtesy of Ian Kinsler’s double, Elvis Andrus’ single and Michael Young’s single.
Detroit starter Rick Porcello allowed three runs (two earned) and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Texas starter Matt Harrison gave up two runs and three hits in five innings.