Detroit got the run back in the fourth

Hamilton clubbed a towering leadoff shot to center in the seventh, pushing the Texas advantage to 7-4, while Fielder's RBI groundout in the eighth made it a two-run contest.

Joe Nathan struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 17th save of the year.

Earlier, Fielder ripped a two-run double into the gap in left-center for a 2-0 Detroit advantage in the opening frame, but Ian Kinsler, mired in a 2-for-21 slump, helped the Rangers cut the deficit in half as he launched a leadoff homer over the wall in left to make it 2-1 after an inning of play.

Detroit got the run back in the fourth when Fielder cracked a solo blast over the wall in left center, giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

Consider Rays manager Joe Maddon’s reply before Tuesday’s game

Collins has made a point of cultivating relationships in the clubhouse, so that when he does decide enough is enough, the players seem to want to go the extra mile for him.

As Young said after earning his first win this season, "From top to bottom we've got a group of fighters, and it's fun to be a part of it."

As a result, you get the feeling they're not going to fade away anytime soon, despite

the obvious flaws that have been showing up — bad bullpen, bad defense and what had been an anemic lineup.

Consider Rays manager Joe Maddon's reply before Tuesday's game when asked what he thought of the Mets.