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Santiago delivers in 10th as Tigers nip Rays

Jun 14, 2011 - 4:19 AM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Ramon Santiago ripped an RBI triple to right in the bottom of the 10th inning to send the Detroit Tigers to a dramatic 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park.

Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson collected two hits, while Brennan Boesch added a double for Detroit, which has won seven of its past 10 games.

"It was a great win for us. Any win...is very important for us. We have to grind every game," Santiago said.

David Purcey (1-0) threw a scoreless 10th to pick up his first victory for Detroit.

Tigers starter Phil Coke was brilliant for 6 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding only four hits while striking out three.

Justin Ruggiano smacked an RBI double and Johnny Damon added a pair of hits for the Rays, who had won six of their previous eight contests.

Kyle Farnsworth (2-1) gave up two hits and the winning run in the 10th to pick up the loss for the Rays.

Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb gave up a run in a strong 5 2/3 innings, scattering eight hits while fanning seven and walking only two.

Martinez got the winning moment rolling for Detroit by lacing a one-out single. Santiago followed, belting a Farnsworth offering into the right- center field gap, allowing Martinez to chug home all the way from first.

"I was trying to get a ground-ball double play," Farnsworth said. "It was a sinker that stayed up a little bit, and [Santiago] hit it into the gap."

The Tigers broke the scoreless deadlock in the fifth with a two-out rally. Boesch smacked a double to left field and Miguel Cabrera followed with a walk. Martinez laced a single to center to score Boesch and put Detroit ahead 1-0.

Tampa Bay threatened in the seventh, loading the bases with only one out. The opportunity was squandered when Casey Kotchman flew out to Magglio Ordonez in right and Ruggiano was thrown out at home trying to score on the fly ball.

The Rays fought back and tied the game at one in the eighth. After Tampa loaded the bases on three consecutive singles, Ruggiano came through with a sacrifice fly to plate John Jaso. The Rays had a chance to take the lead with Evan Longoria at the plate and runners on the corners, but he hit into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

Game Notes

Prior to Monday's contest, the Tigers activated Ordonez from the 15- day DL. He started the game playing right field...Detroit is hitting .304 as a team during the month of June...Monday's game was a make-up game from a May 25 rainout...Damon has reached base safely in 38 consecutive games, a Rays franchise record...B.J. Upton roped his 11th double of the season in the second inning...Detroit has had at least one extra-base hit in every game this season...Ordonez collected his 100th career outfield assist as a right-fielder in the seventh...Rays' manager Joe Maddon was ejected in the seventh inning.