Reuters/Detroit
Nelson Cruz slammed a three-run homer in the 11th inning to seal a 7-3 victory for the Texas Rangers over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, moving the visitors within one win of a repeat trip to the World Series. Cruz, who crushed a winning grand slam homer in extra-innings to give Texas a victory in Game Two, delivered the decisive blow again to hand the Rangers a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Texas can clinch a spot in the Fall Classic on Thursday with a Game Five victory, also at Comerica Park. Cruz has been a one-man wrecking crew for the Rangers, pounding four homers in four games and driving in nine runs as well as etching his name in the record books as the only player to hit two extra-inning homers in the same post-season series. This time the right fielder’s heroics came after Mike Napoli had broken open a 3-3 deadlock with a base hit to centre that scored Josh Hamilton, who had led off the 11th with a double. When Cruz was not scoring runs, the flashy Dominican was robbing them, denying Detroit a go-ahead score in the bottom of the eighth by throwing out Miguel Cabrera at home with a perfect dart from right field. “Thank you Nelson Cruz,” Rangers manager Ron Washington told reporters. “We certainly needed what he gave us. “I don’t judge Nelson just because he hits balls out of the ball park. He’s a complete player. “He takes pride in every part of his game.” Following a two hour, 13 minute rain delay, Game Four began under a steady drizzle and the Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 third inning lead on a two-run double from Cabrera, that extended his post-season career hitting streak to 11 games.
| Texas Rangers’ Nelson Cruz celebrates with teammates after he hit a three run home run against the Detroit Tigers during their MLB American League Championship Series baseball playoffs in Detroit, Michigan, on Wednesday |
October 13, 2011 | 12:00 AM