Throughout the game, Verlander was in control, commanding his fastball first and foremost, jumping ahead of hitters and limiting the Rays to one run on four hits over eight innings.
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Yoenis Cespedes led off the seventh with his 16th home run, Detroit’s second hit of the game, to pull the Tigers to 3-1.
Those looking for reasons to hope would point at the recent struggles of the rest of the parity-laden American League, then point to the duo of Price and Justin Verlander – who got his first win of the season Wednesday afternoon – and wonder if the Tigers couldn’t get back into contention. Tigers closer Joakim Soria pitched a scoreless ninth for his 23rd save.
“It’s just a surreal experience”, Lou Casali told NewCanaanite.com as he watched his son lead Tampa to an eventual 10-2 win over Detroit.
Archer struck out nine batters in the first five innings – Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said it reminded him of Kerry Wood’s 20-strikeout game – but a series of plays from the usually sure-handed Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop cost the Rays in the seventh. His off-balance one-hop throw was not in time to beat the Tigers shortstop at first. He recorded 10 strikeouts and no walks, a rarity for even vintage Must See JV, going eight strong innings, allowing just four hits and one run.
The Tigers lost 5-2 to the Rays on Monday to fall to 1-5 in their last six road games overall.
Archer, 0-4 over six starts since beating Toronto on June 23, allowed two unearned runs, three hits and struck out 11 in seven innings.
Although the Tigers (49-52) ended a three-game skid with Wednesday’s 2-1 victory at Tampa Bay, general manager Dave Dombrowski confirmed after the game that he will listen to offers for their free agents. The move gave Tampa Bay three catchers, providing protection so C Curt Casali could DH and Rene Rivera catch. He was making his eighth start after beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained right triceps.
Rays: All-Star RHP Chris Archer (9-7) starts the season finale.
Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie allowed three home runs – all in the sixth inning – and hit three batters, including Brantley in the fifth.
Carlos Gonzalez, a subject of trade talks, hit his 21st home run (his eighth in the last seven games) for the Rockies. The 31-year-old Mexican, who could match last season’s win total with a triumph on Thursday, permitted two runs in five frames to pick up the victory over Detroit on July 19. TB logged eleven hits and a trio of BB with Curt Casali smacking a pair of homers and driving in three while Evan Longoria went solo. OF Desmond Jennings (left knee) will start a minor league rehab assignment this weekend with Triple-A Durham.
Ehire Adrianza added a two-run single and Brandon Crawford had a sacrifice fly for the defending World Series champs, who scored all of their runs in the fourth.
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Casali has four home runs in the last five games in which he has batted. The Tigers won the game 2-1.
