Rangers 6, Tigers 2
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Left fielder Mike Napoli's two-run home run keyed a four-run outburst with two outs in the third inning for the Texas Rangers, who moved a step closer to AL West Division title with a 6-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.
Texas' magic number to clinch the division is two. The Rangers (86-72) lead the Los Angeles Angels and Houston Astros by three games, pending a late outcome.
The Angels, who begin a four-game series at Texas on Thursday, lost to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. If Houston loses its late game to the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers can finish no worse than a tie for the second wild-card spot in the American League.
Napoli's blast to left was one of three home runs hit by Texas. Third baseman Adrian Beltre hit his 17th home run, a two-run shot that tied the game in the first, and catcher Robinson Chirinos hit a tie-breaking solo homer to start the game-winning rally in the third.
Right-hander Yovani Gallardo (13-11) earned the victory, yielding two runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out five over 51/3 innings. Gallardo -- who has not pitched more than six innings since June 27 and has only gone six three times since then -- gave up a two-run double to Detroit right fielder Tyler Collins.
When Gallardo found trouble with two on and one out in the sixth, Texas manager Jeff Banister went to the bullpen, calling first on left-hander Andrew Faulkner to retire Collins and then right-hander Ross Ohlendorf, who induced an inning-ending groundout from Detroit third baseman Nick Castellanos.
The Rangers bullpen has held Detroit (73-85) scoreless over 62/3 innings during Texas' two-game winning streak, giving up four hits over that period.
Right-hander Sam Dyson and right-handed closer Shawn Tolleson, working in non-save situation, pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings.
Detroit left-hander Matt Boyd (1-6) took the loss, giving up six runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two over 22/3 innings.
The most glaring flaw on his line were three home runs.
The Rangers erased a 2-0 deficit with Beltre's two-run home run in the first, then broke the deadlock with four in the third.
Chirinos put Texas up with a home run to lead off the third. Beltre's two-out double was the first of three consecutive hits, which included Fielder's run-scoring single and Napoli's two-run smash to left.
NOTES: Robinson Chirinos, the Rangers' top catcher most of the season before he sustained a shoulder injury, made only his second start behind the plate since July 30. ... As expected, Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera was not in the lineup. DH Victor Martinez (sore thigh) sat out a second consecutive day, though 3B Nick Castellanos (bruised finger) was back in the lineup after coming out in the first inning Tuesday. ... The Rangers open their final regular-season series against the visiting Angels on Thursday, with Texas LHP Derek Holland (3-3, 4.99 ERA) facing Los Angeles LHP Andrew Heaney (6-3, 3.29). ... The Tigers are off Thursday before beginning a series in Chicago on Friday. Detroit RHP Alfredo Simon (13-11, 5.18) will oppose White Sox LHP Chris Sale (12-11, 3.48) in the opener.