After building a five-run cushion, Detroit held on despite Nelson Cruz's fifth home run of the series. With closer Jose Valverde unavailable for the Tigers, Texas cut it to 7-5 in the ninth and had Cruz on deck when Phil Coke retired Mike Napoli on a game-ending groundout with two runners on.
Coke got five outs for his first career postseason save.
"Cokie came through for us," Leyland said. "A little different situation for him obviously, but he was up to the challenge."
The Rangers get another chance to reach the World Series for the second straight season in Game 6 Saturday night at home. Derek Holland will start for Texas against Max Scherzer.
A swift turn of events in the sixth helped Detroit pull ahead. The Tigers turned a bases-loaded double play to keep the score tied at 2, then opened the bottom half with a single, double, triple, and homer - in order - to take a 6-2 lead.
The Rangers were the ones who seemed on the verge of breaking the game open in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. But then Ian Kinsler hit a grounder right to third baseman Brandon Inge, who merely had to step on the bag and throw to first for a double play.
Ryan Raburn led off the bottom half with a single, and Cabrera's slow grounder bounced high off third base and down the line, putting Detroit ahead, 3-2.
Victor Martinez followed with a rare triple down the right-field line, scoring another run, and Young added a two-run homer.
Verlander allowed four runs and eight hits in 71/3 innings, throwing a career-high 133 pitches. He struck out eight and walked three.
"I want the ball. I want to go as deep as possible," Verlander said. "It was a battle for me, all night."
