2011 ALCS Game 2: Rangers beat Tigers on Nelson Cruz grand slam in 11th

ARLINGTON, Tex. — With an infirm roster, a defiant manager and a miraculous closer, the Detroit Tigers pushed the Texas Rangers as far as they could Monday, until sunshine yielded to a starless night over Rangers Ballpark. They overcame injuries to two-thirds of their outfield, ignored the conventional wisdom that the Rangers had become a clear favorite and escaped a bases-loaded, no-out, ninth-inning jam. And suddenly, with one swing and a ball that nearly tore a hole in the sky, it ended.

The Rangers took command of the American League Championship Series with an epic, 7-3, 11-inning victory that came when Nelson Cruz launched the first walk-off grand slam in postseason history off Tigers reliever Ryan Perry. The Rangers lead the series, 2-0, as it shifts to Detroit, but after the tense game and heart-wrenching ending for the Tigers, two questions emerged: How much does Detroit have left? And who is stopping the Rangers?

(Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press) - Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus catches a fly ball to make the third out against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning.

(Charlie Riedel/Associated Press) - Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus reacts to catching a fly ball to make the third out.

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For the players involved, the more urgent question was, What just happened? The Tigers led for the bulk of the game, until Cruz’s first home run tied it at 3 in the seventh inning. Both teams loaded the bases without scoring in the ninth. The Rangers’ bullpen pitched 8¹ / ₃ innings, the first 4¹ / ₃ from Scott Feldman, who allowed one hit and struck out four.

“I can honestly say that was the probably the coolest game I’ve ever been apart of,” Feldman said. “When I got done even watching that game, I thought my beard was going to turn gray.”

And that was the winning team. The Tigers played with one of their outfielders, Magglio Ordonez, out of the season and another, Delmon Young, back on the roster with an oblique injury after he’d been presumed out for the series. They found solace in how close they played the Rangers, in opportunities created but missed, and in the comfort of returning to Comerica Park on Tuesday night.

“That’s why I don’t think you’re going to see us panic,” starter Max Scherzer said. “The mind-set doesn’t change.”

Each team could have ended the game several times before the 11th, when the Rangers did. Michael Young led off against Perry with a sharp single to left, past the dive of third baseman Don Kelly, who had been playing on the line to prevent a double. Adrian Beltre ripped another single. With two on and no outs, Mike Napoli smacked a line drive to right-center field. Andy Dirks sprinted to his left, and the ball grazed off his glove.

The mistake gave Perry no margin for error: “He can’t pitch the guy the way he wants,” Dirks said.

It was the wrong guy. Last year, Cruz hit six home runs in the postseason, and already he had hit two in this series. Cruz missed the first two weeks of September with a left hamstring strain, and after he returned he hit .190. Even as he dropped to seventh in the Rangers’ lineup, though, he felt his swing coming back.

In the 11th, Cruz fell behind 0-1 and then crushed a foul ball into the upper deck. He had done the same before his homer in the seventh. “I know my hands are quick, and I can wait longer,” Cruz said.