Arlington, TX – Nelson Cruz's homer in the fourth inning was 2, in a rain-interrupted opener to the American League Championship Series.
In a game that featured nearly two hours of delay, neither starter pitched through the fifth inning and neither bullpen gave up a run.
Cruz's homer off Detroit ace Justin Verlander to start the fourth inning gave Texas a 3-0 lead, and the Rangers held on after a lengthy rain delay to gain the early advantage in this best-of-seven series.
Texas, which defeated Tampa Bay in a Division Series matchup, is back in the ALCS for a second consecutive year. The Rangers beat the Yankees in the 2010 ALCS before losing to San Francisco in the World Series.
Detroit knocked off New York in the first round of the playoffs and is in the ALCS for the first time since 2006, when it lost the World Series to St. Louis.
But the Tigers got off to a rocky start Saturday despite having Verlander on the mound.
