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Score and situation: Charged with battling both the Detroit Tigers and a rare rain, the Texas Rangers hung on for a 3-2 victory at Rangers Ballpark on Saturday night. The win gives them a 1-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.
Leading lads: David Murphy hit a RBI triple and Nelson Cruz homered, but all credit goes to the Rangers bullpen after two rain delays threatened to make the game a mess. Michael Gonzalez, Alexi Ogando, Darren Oliver, Mike Adams and Neftali Feliz allowed only one hit over 4 1/3 innings of relief after a 41-minute rain delay — the second of the game — forced starter C.J. Wilson from the game. The Tigers 'pen wasn't bad itself with four innings of one-hit ball, but the team's lineup wasted the effort.
Key play: Gonzalez induced Avila to ground out with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fifth inning to end the Tigers' scoring threat and preserve the Rangers' one-run lead. The game had just come back from its second rain delay.
Key stat: Ogando pitched two scoreless innings and is now 4-0 against the Tigers this season, though this was his first win coming out of the bullpen.
What they'll be talking about: The Rangers' ability to win a game started by Verlander should have a big impact on the outlook of both teams, but the momentum will only go as far as the next game's result. Can Texas put itself in the series drivers seat with a win in Sunday's Game 2? *After a big bullpen night, they'll likely need some added offense to do so. Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton were both 0-for-4 at the top of the order while Michael Young was 0-for-3 with a walk.
What's next: Game 2 starts at 7:45 ET on Sunday night. Max Scherzer will start for Detroit, while Derek Holland goes for the Rangers.