Final
Tigers try for series win over Rays
Jul 1, 2012 - 3:26 PMVideo
Rick Porcello went seven scoreless innings to lead Detroit in its 6-2 victory over the Rays on Saturday. Austin Jackson crushed a three-run homer, Jhonny Peralta ripped a two-run single and Prince Fielder added an RBI on a groundout for the Tigers, who have won two of the first three games in this set. Miguel Cabrera finished 3-for-3 with two walks in the victory.
Jackson has now hit safely in seven straight contests and has a .433 batting average over that span. Cabrera enters Sunday's matchup leading the Tigers with 16 home runs, 62 RBI, and 99 hits.
Southpaw Drew Smyly will take the mound for Detroit today. The left-hander made his return from the disabled list on Tuesday, but his comeback was not ideal for Tigers fans. Smyly gave up six earned runs and eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings to Texas in his return. He comes in with a 2-3 record and a 4.48 ERA.
Smyly will be opposed by Rays right-hander Alex Cobb. Cobb is coming off a complete game on Monday in which he gave up eight earned runs on 13 hits and struck out just one batter in an 8-0 loss to Kansas City. Despite the unimpressive numbers, his manager praised his player after the outing.
"It's heroic in a baseball sense because he gave up those five runs, a big lead, he did not cave in. He kept making pitches. He stayed on the mound. He preserved everybody else, which preserves the integrity of the whole group for days. In a baseball sense that was an outstanding performance by [Cobb] tonight," said Rays manager Joe Maddon.
The rookie pitcher held Miami scoreless for seven innings and struck out 10 in his prior start to Monday's complete game. Cobb's only bout against the Tigers took place on June 13, 2011, when he allowed one run and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of a 2-1, 10-inning loss.
The Rays are in third place in the AL East and come into Sunday trailing the first-place Yankees by 6 1/2 games. Tampa Bay's offense has been non-existent so far this season and will need to improve if it is going to contend for a divisional title. The Rays are third to last in the majors with a team batting average of only .233.
Tampa's only two runs in Saturday's defeat came via solo home runs from Carlos Pena and Jeff Keppinger. Pena's homer in the loss gives him a team-high 11 for the season.
No Rays player with 200 or more at-bats has a batting average above .300. Designated hitter Luke Scott went 0-for-4 at the plate for the second straight game on Saturday and has not hit safely since June 1.
The Tigers lead the all-time series between the clubs, 56-53.
- DETROIT: 5
TAMPA BAY: 3
Final
Jul 1 4:59 PM - Austin Jackson singled to center scored Don Kelly with one out. Runner on first and Quintin Berry due up.
Tigers 4, Rays 3 Top 6, 1 OutJul 1 3:41 PM - Jose Molina doubled to right scored Hideki Matsui with one out. Runner on second and Elliot Johnson due up.
Tigers 3, Rays 3 Bot 5, 1 OutJul 1 3:29 PM - Hideki Matsui singled to right scored Ben Zobrist with one out. Runner on first and Jose Molina due up.
Tigers 3, Rays 2 Bot 5, 1 OutJul 1 3:28 PM - Alex Avila sacrifice fly out to right scored Miguel Cabrera with two outs. Runner on first and Ryan Raburn due up.
Tigers 3, Rays 1 Top 5, 2 OutsJul 1 3:18 PM - Delmon Young sacrifice fly out to right scored Quintin Berry with one out. On the play, Miguel Cabrera advances to third. Runners on first and third and and Alex Avila due up.
Tigers 2, Rays 1 Top 5, 1 OutJul 1 3:15 PM - Ryan Raburn singled to center scored Prince Fielder with none out. On the play, Alex Avila advances to second and Delmon Young advances to third. Bases loaded and Don Kelly due up.
Tigers 1, Rays 1 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 1 2:47 PM - B.J. Upton sacrifice fly out to center scored Desmond Jennings with two outs. None on and Jeff Keppinger due up.
Tigers 0, Rays 1 Bot 1, 2 OutsJul 1 1:59 PM - Lawrence Brown Tigers got this game, and the series today!
Tigers 0, Rays 0 Top 1, 1 OutJul 1 1:46 PM - DETROIT: 0
TAMPA BAY: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 1 1:45 PM
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