ARLINGTON, Texas -- The Texas Rangers are in quite a groove right now, and they know it.Its an unbelievable lineup, catcher Jonathan Lucroy said. Anybody can hurt you on any given day.The Rangers (69-48) are in firm control in the American League West thanks to a recent 14-6 surge thats given Texas a 7 1/2-game cushion over Seattle and Houston in the division. Its also been six wins in the last seven games, including Fridays 8-5 victory over Detroit.The Rangers and Tigers continue their three-game set with the middle game Saturday night at Globe Life Park. Texas has beaten Detroit six straight times, with the last four coming this season.The Rangers look to make it seven in a row with ace Cole Hamels (12-3, 2.89 ERA) taking the mound for the 24th time this season. The lefty has gone 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA in five starts since the All-Star break. Hamels is 3-1 lifetime against Detroit.Detroit (61-54) hopes to snap a five-game skid with left-hander Matt Boyd (3-2, 4.69) making his 11th start of the season. Boyd is 0-3 record with a 7.63 ERA in his career against Texas.Boyd made a relief appearance Aug. 9 at Seattle, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless inning. His last start was Aug. 6 against the New York Mets, picking up the win after giving up three runs on six hits with five strikeouts over five innings.The Tigers are in the midst of their second-longest skid of the season. Detroit is 1 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot in the American League.The ups and downs, its hard to describe for people that dont go through it, Tigers catcher James McCann said, but its something we just have to grind our way through.Texas owns the best record in the A.L. and the best 117-game mark in franchise history. The Rangers are 36-18 at home, their best start ever through 54 games.The long ball was good for the Rangers in the series opener, as Texas went deep four times. Trade-deadline pickup Jonathan Lucroy hit two homers to give him six since joining the Rangers on Aug. 1.Lucroy has earned kudos for his handling of the pitching staff in addition to his bat.He doesnt miss his pitch very often, Texas manager Jeff Banister said. For him to come in and really make an immediate impact, not only defensively but offensively, is pretty special.Texas leads the major leagues with 89 home runs since June 9.The Tigers suffered another injury before Fridays game as shortstop Jose Iglesias was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Third baseman Nick Castellanos and center fielder Cameron Maybin are also on the DL, along with starting pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Mike Pelfrey.Were backed into a little bit of a corner because of injuries, manager Brad Ausmus said. 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If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. GENEVA -- Belgium enjoyed an eight-goal rout in World Cup qualifying on Sunday, and Cristiano Ronaldo managed just two -- and missed a penalty -- as Portugal also won.Belgium, which beat Estonia 8-1, and Switzerland extended their perfect starts to join Germany as the only European teams with four straight wins on the road to Russia.Switzerlands 2-0 win over the Faeroe Islands ensured it stayed top in Group B from prolific Portugal, which beat Latvia 4-1. The European champion has 16 goals in its past three matches, including seven for Ronaldo.Still, Belgiums 21-goal tally is Europes best, and Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku were both on target in Brussels.Two big names returned to the scoresheet for the Netherlands in a 3-1 win at Luxembourg. Arjen Robben was playing his first international game this year, and Memphis Depay scored twice.Only group winners advance direct to the 2018 World Cup finals, and four runners-up will go to Russia through a playoff round.Here is what happened on Sunday:---GROUP AThe Netherlands closed the gap on leader France only after conceding a goal to Luxembourg for the first time in 53 years.Arjen Robben returned to national duty after a year sidelined by injuries with a trademark goal in the 36th minute, cutting in from the right and shooting low into the far corner.The Bayern Munich wingers return was ended after only 45 minutes, by which time Luxembourg had leveled from the penalty spot through defender Maxime Chanot.Its a great shame, said Robben, who was advised not to take risks with a small cramp. I wanted to play.Robbens replacement, Memphis Depay, took his chance to score twice. Out of favor with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, Depay headed club teammate Daley Blinds cross for the go-ahead goal. Depay then scored late with a curling free kick.Also Sunday, Ivelin Popov scored after 10 minutes as Bulgaria beat Belarus 1-0 in Sofia.France, which beat Sweden 2-1 on Friday, leads by three points from the Dutch. Sweden is third on goal difference.---GROUP BIt was an eventful evening for Cristiano Ronaldo in Faro.He scored one penalty in the first half, missed another in the second, scored again, and struck the Lattvia crossbar with a late header in Portugals 4-1 win.ddddddddddddAfter Ronaldos 59th-minute spot-kick struck a post and bounced away off the goalkeepers legs, Latvia even leveled in the 67th through substitute Arturs Zjuzins.Portugal substitute Ricardo Quaresma then crossed for William Carvalho to restore the lead and Ronaldo make the win safe with a volley. Defender Bruno Alves added a fourth in stoppage time.Leader Switzerland was often labored in beating the Faeroe Islands 2-0, with goals in each half from recalled forward Eren Derdiyok and captain Stephan Lichtsteiner.The Swiss, which beat a Portugal team without Ronaldo in September, is three points clear.Earlier, third-placed Hungary beat Andorra 4-0 and has seven points before traveling to play Portugal in March. Then, Switzerland will be favored to beat Latvia at home.---GROUP HWhile group leader Belgium was crushing Estonia, the dramatic tension unfolded in Athens.A last-gasp goal by Giorgos Tzavelas allowed Greece to keep its grip on second place with a fiery 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.Both teams ended the game with 10 men, with Kyriakos Papadopoulos getting a red card for striking Edin Dzeko -- in his attempts to wrestle the ball away -- and Dzeko getting a second yellow card for pulling Papadopoulos shorts down.Bosnia, which dominated most of the game, led in the 33rd when Miralem Pjanics free-kick bounced off the right post and then goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis back before finding the net.Tzavelas scored with a blistering shot outside the area in the fifth minute of stoppage time after Bosnias defense only half-cleared a long throw-in.Greece trails Belgium by two points before the teams meet in Brussels on March 25.Belgium followed up its 6-0 win over Gibraltar by going three up in 25 minutes in Sunday, through Thomas Meunier, Dries Mertens and Hazard. Estonia reduced the deficit before half time.Belgium added five more in the second half, including a second for Mertens and two late goals for Lukaku.Cyprus beat Gibraltar 3-1 in the groups other game. ' ' '