ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Justin Verlander allowed one run in six innings, and Tyler Collins' three-run home run sparked a five-run fifth as the Detroit Tigers beat Texas 7-4 on Monday night, handing the Rangers their third straight loss.
It's Texas' longest losing streak since mid-August. The Rangers went into Monday's play leading the AL West by 2 1/2 games over the Astros, who played later Monday at Seattle.
Verlander (5-8) gave up a leadoff homer to former Detroit teammate Prince Fielder in the fourth. He allowed six hits and walked two while striking out five.
Collins, who graduated from Justin Northwest High School about 45 minutes from Globe Life Park, pulled his fourth homer of the season down the right field line to break a 1-1 tie. The homer followed a leadoff single by Dixon Machado and a double by Anthony Gose.
Colby Lewis (17-9) allowed six runs on 10 hits in 4 2-3 innings, his shortest outing since June 5.
Neftali Feliz earned his fourth save with Detroit and 10th overall this season.
Fielder also singled, doubled and had all four Texas RBI. He was the only Ranger with multiple hits.
After Fielder's homer, his 23rd of the season, the Rangers loaded the bases with none out in the fourth. Verlander got Elvis Andrus to fly out to shallow right, Rougned Odor to strike out swinging on three pitches and Chris Gimenez to look at a called third strike on a 3-2 fastball at 96 mph.
Lewis won his previous three starts and was trying to become the first Rangers pitcher to reach 18 wins since Matt Harrison in 2012.
The Rangers are trying to become only the fifth team in the past 40 years to win a division title after trailing by at least eight games in August. Monday night's game was the first of a season-ending, seven-game homestand.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: DH Victor Martinez experienced soreness in his left quad running from first to third in the fifth inning and was replaced in the sixth. He will be re-evaluated before Tuesday night's game.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland (left middle finger) threw a bullpen session and will make his scheduled start Thursday at home against the Los Angeles Angels.
UP NEXT
Tigers LHP Daniel Norris (1-1), acquired from Toronto in July in the David Price trade, pitched five perfect innings against the Chicago White Sox in his previous start, replaced after 63 pitches. The Tigers are 5-1 in his starts.
Texas LHP Cole Hamels (11-8) threw only 87 pitches in six innings last Thursday in the Rangers' 8-1 win at Oakland. The Rangers have won each of his last eight starts.
