ESPN MLB

DETROIT (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers were jumping around in the rain like Little Leaguers.

Carlos Guillen led off the ninth with a solo home run to give Detroit a 3-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Tuesday night.

Elias Says

Monroe Craig Monroe had three outfield assists in the Tigers' Tuesday-night triumph. The only other major-leaguer to do that this season is Endy Chavez of the Mets, who did it against the Giants in a 12-inning game back on June 4. (The last major leaguer with three outfield assists in a nine-inning game was none other than Brandon Inge, against Anaheim on April 27, 2004.) • For more Elias Says, click here

"Obviously everybody was pretty pumped up," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who joined in the celebration. "I was real happy I know that."

Guillen said he was looking for a fastball and that is what Ron Mahay (1-3) served up.

"Guillen's a good hitter. You make a mistake, he's going to hurt you," Texas catcher Gerald Laird said. "He did tonight twice. It just happens."

Guillen, who also homered in the second inning, was greeted at the plate by his teammates and Leyland.

"It was a very exciting win for us," Guillen said. "I was just trying to get on base, make something happen."

Marcus Thames tied the score with a solo shot in the seventh for the slumping Tigers who won for just the sixth time in 19 games. Detroit, which had a 10-game lead over Chicago and 10½ over Minnesota in the AL Central when play ended Aug. 7, leads the Twins by only 1½ games.

"Marcus came through big time," Leyland said.

Fernando Rodney (7-3) pitched a perfect eighth and ninth to pick up the win.

Texas' Gary Matthews Jr. hit a tiebreaking single in the top seventh, but Thames hit his 26th home run of the season in the bottom half.

"We did tonight what we talked about, we hit the ball out of the ballpark," Leyland said. "There's no defense for the home run."

Tigers starter Kenny Rogers gave up two runs and 10 hits in seven innings for his second straight no-decision after four straight wins.

Vicente Padilla allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings. He got out of a two-on, no out jam in the fourth, with an inning-ending double play. Padilla gave up six earned runs in each of his last two starts.

"He pitched well enough to win," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said. "It's tough conditions to pitch in and everybody had some tough defensive plays in the tough weather."

Wes Littleton gave up a walk to Craig Monroe in the eighth but he was stranded at first.

Carlos Lee was caught trying to advance to second base on Mark DeRosa's long fly ball to left field in the second inning.

Monroe had three assists -- the most for a Tigers outfielder since Brandon Inge in April 27, 2004.

The Tigers turned a double play in each of the first three innings, and Rogers helped his caused defensively when he made a sliding stop along the first base line to throw out Nelson Cruz at first in the third.

"What a performance under those conditions," Leyland said. "That kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win."

Michael Young hit his 13th homer on the year in the fourth for the Rangers to tie the score at 1.

With two on in the fourth, Hank Blalock singled to left field, but Monroe threw out Lee at home plate.

Monroe later reached first on a throwing error by Texas third baseman DeRosa. The replay appeared to show that Mark Teixeira made the tag. Showalter argued the call with first base umpire Jerry Layne.

Game notes

Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya has a sprained right wrist and won't be available until at least Friday. Team trainer Kevin Rand said Tuesday that Zumaya has tendinitis. A doctor gave him a cortisone shot Monday. ... A fan wearing a pair of black shorts, black sneakers and white socks streaked across the field during the seventh inning stretch. ... Thames broke an 0-for-16 slump with his home run.