Last-place Tigers fall 6-2 at AL West-leading Rangers

The Rangers used the long ball to jump all over him, taking three pitches deep to account for their six runs.

Texas started the night with a 1 1/2 game division lead over Houston and two games ahead of the Angels, who start a four-game series Thursday in Texas to end the regular season. “We’ve got four games left, and we’ve got to go out and play every night”. J.D. Martinez got things going with a two-run home run to get Detroit on the scoreboard first in this one, scoring Miguel Cabrera as well.

Colby Lewis (17-9) allowed six runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings, his shortest outing since June 5. The Tigers are 5-1 in his starts. After the second out, he went to a full count on each of the next three batters, throwing 21 pitches and giving up two walks and a two-RBI single.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Daniel Norris (44) throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, September 29, 2015, in Arlington, Texas.

“I think it’s a little bit of a weight lifted off of him”, manager Brad Ausmus said.

Hamels settled down through the 6th inning and helped set the stage for relievers Sam Dyson and Keone Kela who each pitched scoreless innings before Shawn Tolleson earned save No. 34 in a crucial 7-6 victory that included three errors committed by the visitors.

“We’re feeling great right now”, shortstop Elvis Andrus said. “It’s a team game and these guys came up huge and I can’t be more thankful for that”. He was also taken off the hook for his first-inning bobble in the bottom of the frame as the Rangers tied the game on a two-run homer from Adrian Beltre. The seemingly ageless third baseman is having a down year by his standards, but Beltre is still batting a serviceable.281/.328/.436 with 16 homers, 72 RBI and 78 runs scored and a handful of games left on the schedule.

“Boyd was just up”. After Deven Marrero and Jackie Bradley Jr. knocked in the go-ahead runs, Betts applied the finishing touches with a two-run homer. “The third was a fastball up”, Ausmus said. After a single, walk and wild pitch, Jefry Marte missed a routine pop-up at first base to allow another run.

Texas broke the deadlock with four in the third. Hamels, who is 6-1 since being acquired by Texas at the trade deadline, retired nine straight and 10 of his last 11 hitters. Martinez (28) celebrates his two-run home run after crossing the plate in front of Texas Rangers catcher Chris Gimenez in the first inning Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. Likewise, the Detroit Tigers forgot it was their job to score enough runs and Matt Boyd forgot how to limit the damage. DH Victor Martinez (sore thigh) sat out a second consecutive day, though 3B Nick Castellanos (bruised finger) was back in the lineup after coming out in the first inning Tuesday…. With a magic number of two, the Rangers open the series against the Halos on Thursday.