The Sports Xchange
Jun 15, 2017
DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera's first home run since May 20 went just over the fence into the seats in right field with one out and one on in the ninth inning Thursday night to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Reliever Tommy Hunter (0-2) gave up a one-out single to Alex Avila in the ninth and pinch-runner Andrew Romine watched halfway between first and second as Cabrera's high fly ball on a 2-1 97-mph fastball went into the seats. It was Cabrera's sixth home run this season and seventh career walkoff.
Closer Justin Wilson (3-2) picked up the win for pitching a four-batter ninth. He gave up a two out bloop single to left then struck out his second batter, Evan Longoria, to end the inning.
Steven Souza Jr. launched a 1-0 Francisco Rodriguez changeup into the seats in left with one out in the eighth to bring Tampa Bay to a 3-3 tie after Detroit had taken the lead with an unearned run in the seventh.
A twisting squibbed grounder to short by Victor Martinez glanced off Daniel Robertson's glove for an error as he overran the ball and let Ian Kinsler stroll in from third base to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead with two out in the seventh. Jumbo Diaz had relieved after a single, walk and double play against starter Alex Cobb left a runner on third.
The Tigers tied it 2-2 on doubles by Miguel Cabrera with one out and J.D. Martinez with two out in the third after the Rays took a 2-1 lead in the top of the inning on Logan Morrison's RBI double, which came two outs after a Mallex Smith single.
Morrison singled and Souza Jr. walked to begin the second for Tampa Bay and the Rays' first baseman scored the tying run on consecutive groundouts by Colby Rasmus and Robertson.
Kinsler got hit by a 1-1 pitch to open the first for Detroit, stole second uncontested and gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead when he scored on a line single to center by Victor Martinez, his first RBI of June.
Cobb made his 100th start for Tampa Bay and gave up three runs (one unearned) on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out three.
Justin Verlander started for Detroit and allowed two runs in seven innings. He walked five, struck out six and allowed six hits.
NOTES: Rays' C Wilson Ramos, recovering from ACL surgery last summer, caught seven innings Wednesday night in a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham. ... Detroit RHP Michael Fulmer (right shoulder bursitis) reported no ill effects Thursday from a bullpen the day before and is on track to start Saturday. ... Tampa Bay RHP Brad Boxberger (right flexor strain) worked a 15-pitch seventh inning and struck out the side for Durham in his rehab assignment. ... RHP Francisco Rodriguez of the Tigers has now allowed seven home runs in 22 2/3 innings after giving up Steven Souza Jr.'s blast in the eighth.