Rangers home, 1 win away

Associated Press

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 31/2 years ago, Cruz was waived at the end of spring training but went unclaimed and was sent to the minors. It’s 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,” 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 LCS-record five home runs heading into tonight, when the Rangers host Detroit with a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven AL 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.