Kiermaier ripped a tiebreaking, three-run triple and Matt Andriese won his third consecutive start as the streaking Tampa Bay Rays downed the Detroit Tigers 7-5 on Friday. Offensively, Evan Longoria leads Tampa Bay with 40 hits, Steven Souza Jr. has 17 RBI and Corey Dickerson has eight home runs.
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Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, right, is congratulated by third base coach Dave Clark after his two-run home run off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Andriese during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 20, 2016, in Detroit. Alex Colome recorded his 11th save, retiring Victor Martinez on a game-ending groundout with the potential tying runs on base.
Sanchez (3-5) allowed five runs in five-plus innings for the Tigers.
The Rays have now scored 38 runs in four games this week. Drew Smyly will start on the mound for Tampa Bay tonight.
Ausmus chose his words carefully when asked if Sanchez’s sixth-inning problems could be a mental problem, even referencing former Pittsburgh Pirates starter Steve Blass, whose career was cut short in the 1970s when he inexplicably lost control of his pitches. “We’re in a good place right now, and we’re looking to keep it rolling in Detroit”, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters Wednesday when his team took over the major league lead in homers (58) with a 6-3 triumph.
Sanchez ended up getting charged with five earned runs while allowing six hits, two walks, one home run and fanning four. The Rays made two errors, however, which left manager Kevin Cash displeased.
Reliever Kyle Ryan retired the next two batters before walking Morrison.
Cabrera made it 6-5 in the seventh, homering off the facing of the camera platform in straightaway center field off Erasmo Ramirez.
One start earlier, the Tigers went to the sixth leading Washington 4-1 but Sanchez gave up a two-run homer to Daniel Murphy and the Nationals ended up winning 5-4.
Rays: RHP Brad Boxberger is scheduled to make a relief outing with Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
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Tigers: RHP Shane Greene, sidelined since April 25 with a blister, pitched three scoreless innings in a rehab start with Low-A West Michigan Friday night. Rajai Davis had a four-game streak in 2014, but Ron LeFlore and Ty Cobb are the only Tigers to reach five since 1913. The complex, which will allow PAL to expand its programming to serve more Detroit children will also be used to host home game played in the Tiny Tigers t-ball program and Detroit Tigers Hometown Championship, two signature youth baseball programs also funded by the Detroit Tigers Foundation.
