Rangers edge Tigers 3-2 in 11
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Alberto Gonzalez's squeeze bunt turned into an RBI infield single in the 11th inning, and the Texas Rangers went on to beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Sunday.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Gonzalez bunted back to pitcher Thad Weber (0-1), who had no play at the plate on runner Nelson Cruz. Weber froze with the ball, and first baseman Miguel Cabrera struggled to get back to the bag in time. Everybody was safe, and Texas took the lead.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland came out to argue, apparently contending the ball hit Gonzalez and should have been dead. The play stood.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Robbie Ross (3-0) pitched a scoreless 10th for Texas, and Joe Nathan finished for his fourth save.
Josh Hamilton homered for the Rangers.
The Tigers led 2-1 in the eighth — with rookie starter Drew Smyly in line for his first career win. But Texas tied it when Elvis Andrus drew a walk, went to second on a wild pitch and took third when catcher Alex Avila's throw to second went into the outfield for an error.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Hamilton hit a sacrifice fly to even the score.
Weber, who was called up from the minors in between games of Saturday's doubleheader, made his major league debut in the 11th. He walked Cruz and allowed singles to Mike Napoli and Yorvit Torrealba, setting up Gonzalez's at-bat with the bases loaded.
He then got out of the inning without any further damage by getting pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland to hit into a double play and Ian Kinsler to ground out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Smyly allowed a run and five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, but had to settle for his third straight no-decision. He's allowed only two earned runs in 16 innings on the season.
Texas starter Colby Lewis allowed two runs and seven hits in seven innings.
Hamilton gave Texas a 1-0 lead in the first with his seventh homer of the year, and Michael Young followed with a single to extend his hitting streak to 10 games. But Smyly settled in nicely after that.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Detroit tied it in the third when Ramon Santiago hit a leadoff triple and eventually scored on a two-out wild pitch.
In the sixth, Hamilton hit a single and went to second on a groundout. He then took third when — after one of Smyly's pitches — catcher Alex Avila's throw went over the southpaw for an error.
Smyly recovered, striking out Cruz and retiring Napoli on a flyball to end the threat.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brennan Boesch hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the sixth, but Detroit couldn't hold on.
NOTES: Detroit RHP Doug Fister, on the 15-day DL since April 8 with a left side strain, says he doesn't have a specific timetable for his recovery. ... Cruz threw out Miguel Cabrera from the warning track in right in the third when the Detroit slugger was trying to stretch a single to a double. ... Avila made two errors but also threw out two runners trying to steal.