The Texas Rangers are looking to close out the season as AL West champions and a win Tuesday night at home against the Detroit Tigers would go a long way in holding off the Angels and Astros who are hot on their tails.
Cole Hamels got the start for Texas, needing to pitch a good outing as the Rangers inch closer to a postseason bid. Hamels didn't have his best outing, but the offense picked him up in this one. He threw six innings, giving up six runs on seven hits while striking out eight and walking two.
For the Tigers, Daniel Norris got the start and really had his struggles. He lasted just 1.2 innigs, giving up six runs (2 ER) on five hits while collecting no strikeouts and walking one. A five-run first inning for the Rangers, with two errors on defense, didn't help Norris and the Tigers.
The scoring in this game opened up right off the bat. J.D. Martinez got things going with a two-run home run to get Detroit on the scoreboard first in this one, scoring Miguel Cabrera as well.
The Rangers didn't waste any time getting that back, plus a little bit more. Shin-Soo Choo tied things up with a two-run home run off of Norris and just like that it was 2-2. Then, Mike Napoli reached by error which scored Adrian Beltre which gave Texas the lead. That was followed by a sac fly by Elvis Andrus and an RBI triple by Rougned Odor that put the Rangers up 5-2 after one inning.
The scoring, however, didn't stop as the Tigers got a few runs back behind a solo home run by Bryan Holaday and an RBI single by Rajai Davis to put the Tigers right back in it at 5-4.
The Rangers weren't holding anything back on offense. In the bottom of the second, Adrian Beltre singled scoring Delino DeShields which gave Texas a 6-4 advantage.
Then in the top of the third, the Tigers offense got busy again. Jefry Marte singled to score J.D. Martinez to cut the deficit to just one run and then Dixon Machado doubled to tie the game at six a piece.
The scoring just wouldn't stop as again in the fourth inning, Adrian Beltre came up clutch with a ground-rule double to give the Rangers the lead again, but this time it was for good.
Hamels settled down a bit after those first few innings and then handed it off to the bullpen who was able to come in and put some zeros on the scoreboard which was big in deciding this game.
With it being a save situation, Rangers closer Shawn Tolleson came on in the ninth to close things down and preserved the win for the Rangers. The Tigers had runners on first and third with just one out, but couldn't plate the run. With two outs, Ian Kinsler sent a line drive into the right center field gap, but center fielder Drew Stubbs made a fine catch on the dead run for the game's final out.
Adrian Beltre led this Texas offense with a 3-for-5 night while driving in two runs and scoring one run himself while Shin-Soo Choo had himself a multi-hit game as well. Overall, the Rangers had nine hits on the night.
As for the Tigers on offense, Bryan Holaday was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while J.D. Martinez drove in two runs in this one as well, as the offense pounded out seven hits. On defense, the Tigers defense committed four errors, a season high.
With the win, the Rangers keep their lead atop the AL West over the Angels and Astros who are breathing down their throats as the season winds down.
The rubber match of this three-game series will be Wednesday night at Globe Life Park in Arlington.
WP: Cole Hamels (12-8, 3.72 ERA)
LP: Buck Farmer (0-4, 7.36 ERA)
SV: Shawn Tolleson (34 saves, 2.77 ERA)