Arlington, TX

Nelson Cruz broke a postseason slump with a decisive homer in the fourth frame off Tigers ace Justin Verlander, as the Texas Rangers claimed a 3-2 victory over Detroit Saturday night, in a rain-interrupted American League Championship Series opener from Rangers Ballpark.

Cruz, who had been hitless in his last 10 at-bats, including a flyout to left off Verlander in the second inning, smacked a 2-0 fastball in the fourth to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead.

The Rangers then held on through two lengthy rain delays in the fifth inning that chased Verlander, who had another start this postseason cut short by rain.

In his Game 1 outing in the ALDS, the Detroit ace lasted only one inning at Yankee Stadium because of the weather, but he came back and pitched Game 3, winning as he threw 120 pitches with 11 strikeouts over eight frames.

Verlander (0-1), who was tasked to set the course for the Tigers in this ALCS, struggled in four innings Saturday as he gave up three runs on five hits and two walks.

The four-time All-Star Verlander, who won the 2011 AL pitching triple crown, threw 49 pitches in the first two innings and 82 in four innings before the first delay Saturday.

"I thought tonight his control wasn't good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said of Verlander as reported by MLB.com. "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."

Meanwhile, the Tigers' bullpen was effective, just like their counterparts, but because of Verlander's early struggles Detroit was forced to play catch up.

The Rangers relievers stepped up after taking over starter C.J. Wilson, who yielded two runs on six hits over four-plus innings.

They combined to allow one hit and one walk while striking out eight in 4 1-3 innings in relief. Alexi Ogando (1-0), the second of five Rangers relievers to come into Saturday's game, got the win after throwing two hitless innings.

Texas will be sending Derek Holland to the mound for Game 2 Sunday night. Max Scherzer, who pitched in relief in the Tigers AL division clincher Thursday against the Yankees, will start for Detroit.