Lolich (4-3) lowered his ERA to 2.50 as he didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning, and no runs until the seventh.
Dan Meyer hit his team-leading fifth home run to start the scoring in the second inning, putting the Tigers ahead 1-0.
With Lolich cruising, the Tigers added two runs in the seventh thanks to some shoddy Rangers defense.
Leon Roberts' sacrifice bunt was botched by Texas starter Bill Hands, putting runners on first and second with nobody out. Then Gene Michael bunted, and catcher Jim Sundberg's decision to try for Meyer at third base backfired, loading the bases with no outs.
One out later, Ron LeFlore singled home a run, and Gary Sutherland knocked another in with a force out.
Willie Horton provided insurance that Lolich really didn't need with a solo home run (4th) in the ninth inning.
LeFlore had three singles and stole his third base of the season.
As for Lolich, Tigers manager Ralph Houk marveled at the portly lefty.
"Rubber armed Mickey---that's what we used to call him when I was with the Yankees," Houk said. "He just keeps eating up innings. He was terrific tonight."
Lolich has already thrown 57.2 innings this season
"I like pitching here," Lolich said of Arlington. "I like that it's warm here already."
The game time temperature was 82 degrees, a welcome change for the Tigers (13-15), who've played a lot of games in cold, rainy weather so far.
Notes: The saga of Nate Colbert continues. He went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, lowering his average to .105. Houk didn't want to talk about Colbert after the game. "Next question," the Major barked when asked...Tom Veryzer's sore ankle is responding slower to treatment than originally hoped. Michael started at SS for the third straight game...Despite Lolich's performance, Texas 2B Lenny Randle continued his assault on Tigers pitching this year with a 2-for-4 night, making him 8-for-19 (.421) in four games vs. Detroit this season. Randle has two hits in each game.
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Tigers record: 13-15 (actual 13-15)
Home: 7-11
Away: 6-4
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