Texas @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2011 ) Detroit 3, Texas 7

THE STORY: The Texas Rangers look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the American League Championship Series when the scene shifts to Detroit for Tuesday’s Game 3. The Rangers dealt the Tigers a severe blow with Monday’s 11-inning victory, a 7-3 contest in which Texas’ Nelson Cruz hit the first walkoff grand slam in postseason history. Cruz had two homers and five RBIs with the game-winning blast coming off Ryan Perry. The Tigers are seeking to become the fourth team to overcome a 2-0 deficit since the League Championship Series was increased to best-of-7 games in 1985.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, Fox.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Colby Lewis (14-10, 4.40 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (11-13, 2.83 ERA)

Lewis improved to 4-0 over the past two seasons by giving up just one run and one hit in six innings against Tampa Bay in the AL Division Series. Lewis was 0-1 with a 15.95 ERA in two starts against Detroit this season and gave up 20 hits, including five homers, in just 7 1/3 innings. He is 2-2 with a 7.48 ERA in six career appearances against the Tigers. Alex Avila homered twice against Lewis.

Fister went 1-1 with a 6.52 ERA in two starts against New York during the ALDS. He was 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in two starts against Texas this season – winning for the Tigers and losing when he was with Seattle in mid-July. Fister is 2-3 with a 4.38 ERA in six career outings against Texas. Cruz is 7-for-14 with a homer against Fister.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Detroit was just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left 13 men on base in Monday’s loss. Victor Martinez failed to come through with the bases loaded in the ninth after leading the majors with a .394 average with runners in scoring position. Ryan Raburn hit a three-run homer for Detroit’s runs. Delmon Young was added to the roster in place of Magglio Ordonez (ankle) after originally being left on the roster due to an oblique injury. Avila is just 2-for-25 in the postseason.

ABOUT THE RANGERS: Cruz had three hits Monday and has three homers in the first two games of the series. Cruz was just 1-for-15 in the ALDS against Tampa Bay. Michael Young started the decisive inning with a single and is batting .130 in six postseason games. Adrian Beltre had three hits and is 7-for-13 over the last three games.

FINAL PITCH: The Texas bullpen pitched 8 1/3 shutout innings in Monday’s game and has hurled 12 2/3 scoreless innings with 16 strikeouts over the first two games.