Nelson Cruz reacts after hitting a walk-off grand slam on Monday to give the Texas Rangers a 7-3 extra-inning win over the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of the ALCS.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Two innings after Nelson Cruz crumbled to the ground writhing in pain, the slugger provided a grand finish for the Texas Rangers.

Cruz hit the first game-ending grand slam in postseason history, sending the defending AL champions to Detroit with a 2-0 lead in the American League championship series after a 7-3 victory over the Tigers in 11 innings Monday.

“That's the guy you want to see right now,” Elvis Andrus said. “He's getting hot again. That's what we're looking for.”

The high drive to left off Ryan Perry was the second homer of the game for Cruz, and his third in the ALCS after struggling so badly in the first round of the playoffs (1 for 15 with only a single against Tampa Bay).

He now has the Rangers on Cruz control in the ALCS. They are two wins away from their second consecutive World Series after having never won a postseason series before last year.

“When Nellie gets going like he's going, he's tough to beat,” Ian Kinsler said. “Hopefully he can continue that and carry us.”

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Detroit. Colby Lewis, 4-0 in five career postseason starts, pitches for Texas against Doug Fister.

Lewis was on a flight ahead of the team, and was probably already in Detroit before the 4-hour, 25-minute marathon ended in Texas. Fister flew home with the rest of the Tigers.

Cruz doubled early and chased Tigers starter Max Scherzer with a tying home run in the seventh. Then he was hit near the right wrist by a Jose Valverde fastball in the ninth, when the Rangers blew a bases-loaded chance — same as Detroit had done in the top half of the inning.

“When I got hit, I thought it was worse,” Cruz said. “In that situation, you want to stay in the game. Thank God I got a chance to win the game.”

Manager Ron Washington said Cruz “was a little scared” because the area where he got hit was already black and blue.

“But after the doctor checked him and told him he was fine, then Nelson got up,” Washington said. “We certainly needed everything he gave us tonight. He tied the ballgame, and he won it.”