DETROIT – Kevin Millwood pitched seven innings to win his second straight start and Mark Teixeira hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth to lift the Texas Rangers over the suddenly skidding Detroit Tigers 2-1.

Akinori Otsuka allowed a leadoff triple in the ninth before getting three straight outs for his 24th save in 27 chances. Texas has won seven of nine – after losing 11 of 16 – to stay in the AL West race.

Dmitri Young homered for the Tigers, who have dropped seven of their last 10 games but still have the best record in baseball.

Millwood (12-8) allowed only one run and three hits – two to Young. He struck out four and didn’t walk a batter to win consecutive starts after going 0-3 in his previous four.

Craig Monroe tripled in the ninth for Detroit and the Rangers responded by moving their infield in. Otsuka then got Young to ground out to first, Magglio Ordonez to ground to shortstop and Carlos Guillen to bounce to second.

After Young’s single in the first, Millwood retired 17 of the next 18 Tigers with the exception being Young’s solo homer in the fourth.

Young’s sixth homer in 20 games since being activated tied it at 1, but Teixeira’s solo home run in the sixth inning put the Rangers on top.

Zach Miner (7-4) gave up two runs, eight hits and one walk over six innings for the Tigers. The rookie has won only one of his last seven starts after winning six straight.

Detroit relievers Jason Grilli and Wilfredo Ledezma combined to pitch three innings of hitless relief.

The Rangers went ahead 1-0 in the fourth on Ian Kinsler’s RBI single, the third hit of the inning. Miner got out of the two-on, one-out jam when Rod Barajas hit a short fly ball and Mark DeRosa was doubled up at second.

Notes: Before serving his second game of a four-game suspension, Texas manager Buck Showalter said he wouldn’t attempt to have his punishment reduced. Showalter and pitchers Vicente Padilla and Scott Feldman were suspended for their role in Wednesday night’s on-field altercation with the Los Angeles Angels. … Detroit LHP Mike Maroth is scheduled to make his third rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Toledo, but the Tigers don’t plan to use a six-man rotation when Maroth is ready to return. … Teixeira has 10 homers since the All-Star break after hitting nine in the 88 games before it.

AP-ES-08-18-06 2144EDT