Coming out to chants of MVP, Justin Verlander strikes out Adrian Beltre to start the eighth, but gives up a single to Nike Napoli. He’s still hitting 99 on the radar gun.

Nelson Cruz catches up to a pitch, however, and hits a high home run just over the fence and just inside the foul pole down the leftfield line. Verlander leaves to the crowd chanting, “MVP, MVP,” and a 7-4 lead.

Update: Phil Coke comes on with the Tigers needing five outs for the win.

Update: Coke get David Murphy to ground back to the box for the second out.

Update: Cruz’s home run, his fifth of the ALCS, tied a post-season record for most in a single series.

Update: Yorvit Torrealba strikes out to end the inning. The Rangers trail by three as the game goes to the bottom of the eighth.