• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Scherzer improves to 8-0 as Tigers take series

Jun 6, 2013 - 10:12 PM Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Max Scherzer struck out nine over seven stellar innings to remain unbeaten on the season, as the Detroit Tigers downed the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-2, in the finale of a three-game set at Comerica Park.

Scherzer (8-0) limited the Rays to a run on four hits and two walks en route to becoming the first Tigers starter to go 8-0 since Jeremy Bonderman in 2007. Jose Valverde spun a perfect ninth to notch his seventh save.

Victor Martinez scorched a two-run homer and finished with three RBI, while Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored to help Detroit claim the rubber match.

"It's always good when you help the team get a win," Martinez remarked. "We played good as a team. (Scherzer) went out there and gave us a great chance to win the ballgame."

Roberto Hernandez (3-6) struck out six for the Rays, but was charged for four runs on 10 hits over 5 1/3 frames to absorb the loss.

"I think he pitched awesome, kept the ball down," Rays catcher Jose Molina said of Hernandez. "We're supposed to cash in out there and we couldn't. That's part of the game I guess."

James Loney knocked in both runs for Tampa Bay, which wrapped up an eight-game road trip at 5-3.

Detroit managed just one hit against Hernandez through the first three frames before Martinez got the home team on the board in the fourth.

After Prince Fielder singled with one out, Martinez crushed an 0-1 sinker into the right-field seats to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers tacked on another run in the fifth, as Don Kelly clubbed a leadoff single and moved to second on a groundout before scoring two batters later on Cabrera's bloop single into shallow right-center field.

Tampa Bay finally got to Scherzer in the sixth, as Ben Zobrist worked a leadoff walk and stole second. Loney then delivered a two-out single to left to score Zobrist and bring the Rays within 3-1.

Detroit quickly got the run back in the bottom half when Jhonny Peralta laced a leadoff double and moved to third on Omar Infante's one-out single.

After Jake McGee replaced Hernandez on the hill, pinch-hitter Avisail Garcia plated Peralta with a sac fly to right to make it 4-1.

Scherzer then retired the Rays in order in the seventh before Martinez knocked in another run in the bottom half, as his two-out single to left scored Cabrera, who singled and stole second earlier in the frame.

The Rays cut into the lead in the eighth, as Zobrist worked a one-out walk, moved to third on Evan Longoria's ground-rule double, and scored on Loney's infield single to make it 5-2.

Game Notes

Hernandez fell to 8-7 in 21 games (18 starts) in his career against Detroit ... Cabrera has 66 RBI this season ... The Tigers have held the Rays to four runs or less in 15 consecutive games ... McGee sustained a left shin contusion after taking a Cabrera grounder off the leg in the seventh inning.