Final
Smyly tries to shake off last start in matchup with Rays
Jul 4, 2014 - 2:36 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The baseball pride of the Motor City has been hitting on all cylinders.Almost.
Left-hander Drew Smyly gets a chance to bounce back from the team's only recent subpar mound outing when the Detroit Tigers host the Tampa Bay Rays in game two of a four-game weekend series at Comerica Park.
The Tigers have won five in a row at home and 12 of 14 overall while pulling out to a five-game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central. The offense has combined to hit .296 with 20 home runs in that 14- game stretch, while Detroit's starters have contributed a 9-1 record and a 2.16 earned run average in 14 games -- with that ERA number shrinking to 1.46 in the five-game win streak.
Max Scherzer threw eight strong innings of two-hit ball in Thursday's opener and will hand the ball over to Smyly, who was dinged for four runs on eight hits in just 2 1/3 innings of a 6-4 loss at Houston on Sunday. It was a drastic departure for Smyly, who'd compiled a 1.44 ERA in his previous four outings.
The Tigers said after the game that he was suffering from an upper respiratory infection.
In five overall appearances against the Rays -- including two starts -- Smyly is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA.
Tampa Bay had won five straight before Thursday's game and will send right- hander Alex Cobb to the mound while trying to avoid a third straight loss at Comerica.
Cobb was dinged for four runs in five innings of his last start on Sunday against Baltimore, but nonetheless emerged with a 12-7 victory.
Oddly, in his initial 10 starts of 2014, the Rays had managed just 12 runs.
He's 0-1 in three lifetime starts against Detroit with a respectable 2.41 ERA, but has received just three runs of support in the last two combined.
On Thursday, Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 and scored four runs as the Tigers put on an offensive performance in an 8-1 win.
Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez each hit a two-run home run in the first inning, and Torii Hunter added a solo shot in the frame for the Tigers, who pounded out 15 hits on the way to their fourth straight win.
Scherzer (10-3) allowed one batter to reach base over his final seven frames.
Evan Longoria drove in the only run of the game for the Rays, who had a five- game winning streak snapped.
Erik Bedard (4-6) was banged up for six runs on eight hits in just two innings of work.
The Tigers and Rays split six meetings a season ago.
- TAMPA BAY: 6
DETROIT: 3
Final
Jul 4 10:26 PM - Brandon Guyer ground out second to first scored Desmond Jennings. None on with two outs and Evan Longoria due up.
Rays 6, Tigers 3 Top 7, 2 OutsJul 4 9:33 PM - Torii Hunter grounded into a double play, short to second to first scored Miguel Cabrera J.D. Martinez out at second Victor Martinez advances to third. Runner on third with two outs and Don Kelly due up.
Rays 5, Tigers 3 Bot 6, 2 OutsJul 4 9:25 PM - Victor Martinez single to right scored Ian Kinsler. On the play, Miguel Cabrera advances to second. Runners on first and second with none out and J.D. Martinez due up.
Rays 5, Tigers 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsJul 4 9:17 PM - Sean Rodriguez triple to right scored Evan Longoria and Logan Forsythe. Runner on third with one out and Jose Molina due up.
Rays 5, Tigers 1 Top 6, 1 OutJul 4 8:57 PM - Ben Zobrist double to left scored Desmond Jennings. Runner on second with two outs and Brandon Guyer due up.
Rays 3, Tigers 1 Top 5, 2 OutsJul 4 8:39 PM - Torii Hunter ground out third to first scored Victor Martinez. Runner on second with two outs and Don Kelly due up.
Rays 2, Tigers 1 Bot 4, 2 OutsJul 4 8:28 PM - Evan Longoria lead-off Home Run (11) to left. Logan Forsythe due up.
Rays 2, Tigers 0 Top 4, 0 OutsJul 4 8:13 PM - Ben Zobrist double to right scored Desmond Jennings. Runner on second with two outs and Brandon Guyer due up.
Rays 1, Tigers 0 Top 3, 2 OutsJul 4 7:52 PM - TAMPA BAY: 0
DETROIT: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 4 7:09 PM
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