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Olt helps Rangers top Tigers

Aug 12, 2012 - 5:50 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Mike Olt's pinch-hit, RBI single in the ninth gave the Texas Rangers a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers in the second contest of a three-game series.

In the ninth off of Brayan Villarreal (3-3), Nelson Cruz led off with a walk and Michael Young followed with a walk. That prompted a pitching change as Phil Coke took the mound.

Coke was poised to get out of trouble as the next two batters recorded outs, but Olt smacked a single to left and Cruz easily beat the throw home for the win.

"It was awesome," said Olt. "It's special to be a part of something like that and it's something I'm never going to forget."

Cruz drove in the other run while Josh Hamilton and David Murphy each had two hits for the Rangers, who have won three of four. Mike Adams (2-3) got the win for working out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the ninth.

Austin Jackson's leadoff homer in the first accounted for the only run of the game for the Tigers, who have lost three of four.

Both starters pitched well but did not factor into the decision. Justin Verlander went seven innings for Detroit and gave up one run on seven hits with eight strikeouts. Derek Holland pitched 7 2/3 innings and gave up a run on three hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.

"I wouldn't say his best stuff, but he had good enough stuff to get a win," said Detroit catcher Gerald Laird of Verlander. "He kept us in the game and kept them in check for seven innings and that's all you can ask."

Jackson led off the game with a homer over the left-field wall on a 1-2 slider, his 13th of the year.

Texas left men on base in the first two innings, but got one across in the third.

With two outs in the third, Hamilton singled and Adrian Beltre followed with another base hit. Cruz then singled to left to plate Hamilton and tie the game.

Detroit did not get a runner past second after the first inning until the ninth when the team loaded the bases.

With Alexi Ogando on the mound, Miguel Cabrera drew a one-out walk and Robbie Ross walked Prince Fielder before Adams came on the hill.

He gave up a single to Delmon Young, but Brennan Boesch then broke his bat on a grounder to first, which resulted in a force at home. Jhonny Peralta then flied out to center, ending the inning.

Game Notes

Texas has taken six of nine from Detroit this season...Texas left eight on base while Detroit stranded six...Yu Darvish will pitch for the Rangers on Sunday while Rick Porcello will take the mound for Detroit.