Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Nelson Cruz continued his hot hitting, belting a two-run homer in the 14th inning, lifting the Texas Rangers to an 8-6 win over Detroit in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Cruz, who had three hits and four RBI, has gone 12-for-23 with 10 runs driven in over his last five games.
Ian Kinsler provided a two-run homer and three RBI as part of Texas' 19-hit attack. Josh Hamilton had four hits and drove in a run, as the Rangers won for the fourth time in five contests. Texas also broke an 11-game skid in Detroit, which was a club record for consecutive road losses to a particular team.
Miguel Cabrera homered twice and drove in three runs, but the Tigers dropped their season-high sixth straight game.
The game was marred by injuries to players from both sides. Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the third inning and suffered a non-displaced fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone. He's expected to miss the next 4-to-6 weeks.
Rangers reliever Dustin Nippert was drilled on the side of the head by a line drive off the bat of Austin Jackson in the sixth inning. The right-hander tried in vain to shield the right side of his head with his hand, but the ball found a path and caught him flush near the top of the scalp. He remained down on the ground for a short time while team trainers assessed his condition, but ultimately Nippert walked off the mound under his own power.