Tigers 7, Rangers 4
ARLINGTON, Texas -- For the third consecutive day, the Texas Rangers missed an opportunity to directly reduce their magic number to clinch the American League West.
Unlike the previous two games in Houston, the Rangers dropped one Monday against a club long since eliminated from the playoff race. The Detroit Tigers held on to down Texas 7-4 in the opener of a three-game series at Globe Life Park.
Starting pitcher Justin Verlander (5-8) worked six solid innings and left fielder Tyler Collins added a three-run homer for the Tigers, who snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 73-83.
The Rangers (84-72) entered the day with a 2.5-game lead over the Astros in the AL West and with a magic number of five. Houston was playing late Monday night in Seattle.
The Rangers hadn't lost three in a row since Aug. 9-12. They need to win Tuesday to avoid their first four-game skid since before the All-Star break.
Texas starter Colby Lewis, seeking his 18th win, was shelled and couldn't get out of the fifth. Lewis (17-9) lost for the first time in four outings.
The Rangers managed only six hits against Verlander, who struck out five and only allowed designated hitter Prince Fielder's home run early. Fielder added a run-scoring groundout in the seventh.
Fielder came up with the bases loaded and one out in the ninth and Texas trailing 7-2. Former Rangers closer Neftali Feliz was summoned and, after an extended battle with Fielder, gave up a two-run single to center.
Feliz ended the game and picked up his fourth save with Detroit with a double-play ground ball from third baseman Adrian Beltre.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third as Texas starter Colby Lewis walked first baseman Miguel Cabrera with the bases loaded and two outs. Lewis had a chance to get out of the inning unscathed, but hit left fielder Tyler Collins before facing Cabrera.
Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder made it 1-1 with a solo home run to lead off the fourth off Verlander.
Collins drilled a three-run shot down the right-field line in the top of the fifth off Lewis to make it 4-1. Lewis was pulled after giving up a two-out, two-run single to catcher James McCann.
Texas manager Jeff Banister had actually gone to the mound after the previous hitter, third baseman Nick Castellanos, doubled. Banister, who usually trots out to yank pitchers, left Lewis in and McCann upped Detroit's lead to 6-1.
NOTES: Major League Baseball moved the starting time of Saturday's game between Texas and the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington to 12:05 p.m. CT. The game may be televised nationally. ... Texas is one of four teams with at least six winning records in the last seven years, joining the Yankees, Cardinals and Dodgers. ... Detroit clinched its first losing season in seven years. ... Tigers C James McCann entered the game having not committed an error in his first 114 games played as a catcher in the majors. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the streak is a modern major league record (since 1900).