Alejandro Osuna hit a go-ahead RBI double in the eighth inning as the visiting Texas Rangers opened a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers with a 5-4 win Friday.
Danny Jansen slugged a solo homer and Josh Jung had two hits and two RBIs for Texas, which moved ahead on back-to-back doubles by Jake Burger and Osuna with one out in the eighth against Burch Smith (0-1).
Tyler Alexander (1-0), one of five Texas relievers, pitched a scoreless seventh inning for the win. Jacob Latz retired the Tigers in order in the ninth for his third save.
Riley Greene had two hits and an RBI for Detroit, which has lost three of its last four. Wenceel Perez added a two-run single.
Texas claimed a 1-0 run in the first inning against Jack Flaherty when Brandon Nimmo singled to begin the game and scored from second on Jung’s two-out single to left field.
The Rangers tacked on three runs in the third. Jansen began the inning by depositing a 2-1 slider into the left field seats for his second homer of the season.
Flaherty issued three straight walks to Nimmo, Evan Carter and Corey Seager before the Rangers scored twice on Jung’s single and Joc Pederson’s sacrifice fly.
Nimmo singled in the fourth inning before exiting the game with right hamstring tightness.
Flaherty gave up four runs on five hits over 3 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out four.
Detroit cut into the deficit with three runs in the bottom of the fourth against Texas starter MacKenzie Gore.
Spencer Torkelson drew a two-out walk to load the bases before Perez singled in two runs and Hao-Yu Lee delivered an RBI single.
With runners on the corners, Cole Winn replaced Gore and struck out Gleyber Torres to end the inning.
Gore allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings.
The Tigers pulled even with a run in the fifth. Detroit put runners on the corners with one out before Jalen Beeks replaced Winn and allowed a run on Greene’s forceout.
