ARLINGTON, Texas — Nelson Cruz is again swinging his big boomstick in October for the Texas Rangers, who are one win from their second consecutive trip to the World Series.
Only 3 1/2 years ago, Cruz was waived at the end of spring training but went unclaimed and was sent to the minors. It has been quite a turnaround.
“That period of time in Nelson’s life, he hadn’t arrived yet. You know, we all got to experience things before we finally make our way to where we want to be,” Rangers manager Ron Washington said Friday. “That certainly probably has done a great deal for Nelson to experience that and realize once he got here that he certainly have to figure out how to make the adjustments. And he’s done that.”
Cruz is living up to his boomstick moniker that became common after an MLB 2K10 video game promotion last year, a season after he was the home run derby runner-up. He already has an ALCS-record five home runs heading into tonight, when the Rangers host Detroit with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
“You just continue to say ‘Wow, this guy is really good,’ ” said David Murphy, who as the No. 8 hitter usually is on deck when Cruz hits.
Cruz won Game 2 with the first game-ending grand slam in postseason history. Cruz hit another 11th-inning drive in Detroit in Game 4, a three-run shot.
Yet Cruz bats seventh in the Texas lineup, behind Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Adrian Beltre and Mike Napoli.
“When he gets going he’s as good as any power hitter in the game,” Young said. “He’s got that knack for big RBIs, and you definitely need those guys on your team.”
Against the Tigers, Cruz tied Game 2 when he led off the seventh with a solo homer that chased Max Scherzer. The Detroit starter had retired 12 in a row following a double by Cruz, who was hit by a pitch near his wrist in the ninth and then hit his slam.
Cruz also chased Justin Verlander in Game 5 when he pulled a 100 mph 0-2 fastball that hit the left-field pole, just as his homer off Scherzer did.
“I realize he’s a good hitter, and he’s hot. Given that, you can’t fear him. You have to go right after him,” Scherzer said Friday. “Even though he’s hot, if the situation arises, you might have to be more careful. My game plan, I guarantee you, going forward will be to be aggressive with him.”
Scherzer gets another chance tonight in a rematch of the Game 2 starters. Derek Holland, who didn’t make it out of the third inning Monday, goes for the Rangers.
After going 1-for-15 with a single in the AL division series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Cruz is 6-for-18 against the Tigers.
