Rays 6 - 3 Tigers
Final
  for this game

Jennings leads Rays past Tigers

Jul 5, 2014 - 5:07 AM Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Desmond Jennings went 3-for-5 with three runs scored to help the Tampa Bay Rays to a 6-3 win over the Detroit Tigers in the second game of four at Comerica Park.

Ben Zobrist knocked in two runs and Evan Longoria homered in the triumph, Tampa Bay's sixth win in its last seven.

Alex Cobb (4-6) earned the win after going five-plus innings and allowing three runs on five hits.

"Tonight was the best I've felt since I can remember honestly," said Cobb. "For the most part the whole game I felt really strong with all three pitches."

Detroit starter Drew Smyly (4-8) surrendered five runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 frames in the loss.

Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter each knocked in a run for the Tigers, who had their four-game winning streak halted, as well as their five-game winning streak at home.

Tampa Bay opened the scoring with back-to-back two-out doubles in the third. Jennings ripped a double into the left-field corner before Zobrist served one into the right-field corner.

Longoria then led off the fourth inning with a solo shot to left that stretched the margin to 2-0.

Detroit got on the board in the fourth on an RBI groundout from Hunter.

The top of the Rays order produced another two-out run in the fifth when Jennings singled and Zobrist chased him home with a double to left.

The Rays continued to tack on runs in the sixth. Longoria and Forsythe walked to start the inning, and Sean Rodriguez hit a triple two batters later that pushed the lead to 5-1.

"I was just trying to make good pitches and get outs," said Smyly. "I just couldn't really get the third out and that will hurt you."

Chad Smith relieved Smyly and stranded Rodriguez on third with a strikeout of Jose Molina and a flyout by Kevin Kiermaier.

Ian Kinsler led off the sixth by getting plunked by a curveball from Cobb, who then walked Miguel Cabrera and allowed an RBI single from Martinez. J.D. Martinez drew a walk that loaded the bases and ended Cobb's night in the process.

Brad Boxberger was called upon to get out of the jam, and he immediately induced a 6-4-3 double play by Hunter, then struck out Don Kelly to end the inning.

Jennings doubled to lead off the seventh and Brandon Guyer drove him in two batters later with a groundout to second.

Jake McGee worked around a double from Hunter in the ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season.

Game Notes

Rays manager Joe Maddon was ejected by umpire Greg Gibson when home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott warned both benches after Kinsler was hit in the sixth ... Victor Martinez left late in the game with an injured back ... Tampa Bay went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position, while Detroit went 1-for-8 in those instances.






Related News