Texas Rangers' Cruz celebrates his grand slam home run against the Detroit Tigers in the eleventh inning in Game 2 of their MLB American League Championship Series baseball playoffs in Arlington
Texas Rangers' Nelson Cruz (pointing) celebrates his grand slam home run with teammates at home plate against the Detroit Tigers in the eleventh inning in Game 2 of their MLB American League Championship Series baseball playoffs in Arlington, Texas, October 10, 2011. Reuters

Nelson Cruz belted a grand slam home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to give the Texas Rangers a 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Monday and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series.

Cruz, who tied the game at 3-3 with a seventh-inning blast, connected off reliever Ryan Perry with the bases loaded for the first walk-off grand slam ever in postseason play to thrill the home crowd at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas.

Ryan Raburn had put Detroit 3-2 ahead with a three-run home run in the third inning before Cruz, who also homered in Game One, got the Rangers back on level terms with a solo shot.

Both teams squandered bases-loaded chances in the ninth before the Rangers made the most of a second opportunity to finish off the Tigers.

The series shifts to Detroit for Game Three on Tuesday, with Texas expected to start Colby Lewis against Doug Fister.