Field Level Media
Sep 10, 2021
Jonathan Schoop blasted a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning and the host Detroit Tigers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 10-4 on Friday.
Rays rookie shortstop Wander Franco extended his on-base streak to 39 games but left the game moments later with a right hamstring injury. Franco singled in the first inning, then felt discomfort after going from the first to third on a Nelson Cruz double.
Franco, 20, owns the second-longest on-base streak in major league history by a player under 21. Frank Robinson holds the record at 43 games, which was established in 1956.
Victor Reyes hit a three-run homer, Jeimer Candelario had a two-run double and Eric Haase socked a solo homer for Detroit. Jose Cisnero (4-4) was credited with the victory despite allowing three runs in his lone inning.
Miguel Cabrera had singles in his first two at-bats, extending his streak to nine consecutive at-bats with a hit, before he struck out in the sixth inning. His streak was the longest by a player 38 or older since Ty Cobb also had a nine-at-bat hit streak for Detroit in 1925.
Ji-Man Choi had a pinch-hit, three-run double for Tampa Bay, which lost its second game in a row.
The Rays (88-53) broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning. Kevin Kiermaier ripped a leadoff triple and he scored one out later on Joey Wendle's single.
Haase tied it with his 21st homer, a blast over the left field wall, in the bottom of the fifth.
Akil Baddoo opened the sixth with a triple, leading to Detroit's two-run inning. Robbie Grossman drew a one-out walk and stole second with two outs before Candelario's double to center put the Tigers up 3-1.
Tampa Bay responded with three two-out runs in the seventh against Cisnero. Cruz singled and Cisnero walked the next two batters before Choi ripped his double beyond the diving Baddoo in left field, clearing the bases and giving the Rays a 4-3 lead.
It didn't last long. In the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers loaded the bases against Peter Fairbanks (3-6) on two hits and a walk. Andrew Kittredge replaced Fairbanks, and Schoop clubbed a slider into the Tigers' bullpen beyond the left field wall.
Reyes homered off Shawn Armstrong in the eighth.
--Field Level Media