The Texas Rangers try to take a 2-0 lead on the Detroit of-seven American League Championship Series this evening when the two teams play Game 2 at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The Rangers jumped to an early series lead on Saturday, as Nelson Cruz's home run off Justin Verlander in the fourth inning proved to be the difference in their 3-2 rain-interrupted opener.
In a game that featured nearly two hours of delay, neither starter pitched through the fifth inning and neither bullpen gave up a run.
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 (0-1) on the mound.
The Detroit ace pitched just four innings in another postseason start cut short by rain -- his Game 1 outing in the ALDS lasted only one inning because of the weather.
But in the four innings Verlander did throw Saturday, he wasn't his sharpest, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks.
"I thought tonight that his control was not good," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "His control was not very good. He didn't really have his curveball going for strikes. He had a tough time with it, I think probably trying to overthrow it a little bit."
Detroit batted only 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base Saturday. In fact, the Tigers' only runs came in the fifth, after the game had resumed from delay.
Alexi Ogando (1-0) threw two hitless innings to get the win.
Heading to the hill for the Rangers tonight will be left-hander Derek Holland, who tied for the American League lead this past season with four shutouts. Holland won his Game 2 ALDS start against the Rays, then pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in the Game 4 clincher.
"He's not scared, he just needs to go out and calm his adrenaline down, which I know he will do," said Texas catcher Mike Napoli, who guided Holland through his ALDS start. "He got through his playoff start the first time, so if he calms down his adrenaline and throw strikes, he'll be fine."
Holland, who was 16-5 on the year, picked up eight of his wins at home.
Detroit will counter with righty Max Scherzer, who pitched brilliantly against the Yankees in the ALDS. Scherzer, a 15-game winner in the regular season, scattered two hits over six scoreless innings in Game 2, and allowed a run in 1 1/3 innings of relief in Thursday's Game 5 win.
Rick Porcello had been slated to go in this one, but he pitched in relief on Saturday and Scherzer was able to convince manager Jim Leyland that he was ready to go.
"I spent a lot of time with Scherzer. He felt great," Leyland said. "He convinced me. Max ... he's up front with everything. He never would mislead me in any way, shape or form."
Scherzer has faced the Rangers six times and is a perfect 3-0 against them with a 3.41 ERA in six starts.
These teams have never met in the playoffs, but the Tigers won six of their nine regular season matchups against the Rangers.
