Tigers Vs. Rays: Detroit Takes Series With A 7-2 Win

The Detroit Tigers improved to 5-1 on the season with a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park in Detroit.

22-year old left-hander Drew Smyly made his first start for the Tigers, pitching just four innings, allowing four hits and one earned run and not factoring in the decision. Collin Balester earned the win, pitching two innings in relief and allowing one run.

Detroit took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Andy Dirks tripled to right field, scoring Alex Avila and Brennan Boesch singled to left field to plate two more. Boesch was 2-for-4 with 4 RBI. Prince Fielder, Avila and Dirks each had two hits as well.

Tigers closer Jose Valvered pitched a clean ninth inning to secure the victory and the series win for Detroit.

Detroit heads to Chicago to face the White Sox Friday. Max Scherzer is expected to start the game for the Tigers, while Jake Peavy will thrown for Chicago.

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Tigers Vs. Rays: Drew Smyly Makes Debut In Rubber Match Against Tampa Bay

Drew Smyly will make his major league debut as the Detroit Tigers try to take the three-game series from the Tampa Bay Rays.

Smyly, a second-round pick in the 2010 draft, was nails in the minors last season. He had a 2.26 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 127.2 innings, compiling an 11-7 record.

To make room for Smyly, the Tigers designated Clete Thomas for assignment, a move that could spell the end of Thomas' stint in Detroit. The Tigers have 10 days to trade him or will place him on waivers, at which point he could be claimed by any team. If he clears waiver, Thomas will remain with the Tigers organization and be sent to triple-A Toledo.

Through five games, Thomas hadn't started or had an at-bat.

Rays starter Jeff Niemann will be pitted against Smyly. Niemann spent part of 2011 in the minors but has shown he can, at times, thrive in the majors. Last season the 6-9 Niemann had a string of 10 straight starts without a loss, and is 2-1 with 3.48 ERA in five appearance against the Tigers.

The first pitch Thursday is scheduled for 1:05 ET.

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Tigers Vs. Rays: Detroit Loses First Game Of The Season, 4-2

The Detroit Tigers dropped their first game of the season.

Rays' Jeremy Hellickson Taken To Hospital After Being Hit In Head With Ball During Batting Practice

Scary news related to the Detroit Tigers, however indirectly, early Wednesday morning. According to mlive.com, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson was taken to the hospital after being hit in the head with a ball during batting practice on Wednesday morning. Hellickson was standing in the Rays bullpen when the batted ball struck him.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Hellickson was conscious and was not bleeding. Maddon said Hellickson was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons. He left the field on a cart.

The Tigers weren't set to face Hellickson during their three-game series against the Rays, but it's still worth noting as they get set for game two on Wednesday. It's worth noting given the comparison in the piece, which brings up Al Alburquerque, the Tigers relief pitcher who was hit in the head with a ball during batting practice and then went on to miss a big chunk of the 2011 season.

Hellickson is 1-0 with no earned runs on the season, pitching 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball against the Yankees in his only start on the season. It's a rough break for the American League Rookie of the Year, but given the quote above, there's a solid chance that he'll be fine.

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Tigers Vs. Rays: Detroit Looks To Stay Unbeaten In Game 2 Against Tampa Bay

The Detroit Tigers (4-0) are the only remaining team in the AL to be undefeated, and have a pretty good chance of staying that way with their ace and reigning AL MVP taking the hill on Wednesday as they face the Tampa Bay Rays (3-1) in game two of their series.

A bullpen meltdown doomed the Rays on Tuesday, but their starting pitcher is going to be the one in the spotlight for game two as James Shields will face a formidable foe in Justin Verlander. Verlander struck out seven and allowed no runs but couldn't get the win in the Tigers opener against the Boston Red Sox, while Shields was absolutely shellacked his first game against the Yankees, allowing nine hits and six runs in five innings of work, giving him an impressive 10.80 ERA going into his second game.

Small sample size, always fun this early in the year.

Both teams boast good offenses and will be facing good pitching so it's going to be an interesting game of which team can break through first.

The game will be at Comerica Park at 1:05 p.m. ET.

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Tigers vs. Rays: Big 8th Inning Gives Detroit 5-2 Win

A three-run eighth inning sparked by Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder gave the Detroit Tigers a 5-2 over the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday afternoon.

Cabrera led off the bottom of the eighth with a double off the wall between right and center field. Next up was Fielder, who scored Cabrera with a single up the middle to give the Tigers a lead they would never relinquish.

A Jhonny Peralta sacrifice fly and Gerald Laird RBI single pushed the lead to 5-2 by the end of the inning.

Jose Valverde came in for the ninth and closed the door on the Rays with a perfect inning for his first save.

The scoring outburst in the eighth inning ended what had been a pitcher's duel for most of the afternoon. Detroit starter Rick Porcello gave up two runs over seven innings, while Matt Moore allowed two runs over six-and-two-thirds innings for Tampa Bay.

While both starters pitched well, it was Detroit reliever Phil Coke who picked up the win after throwing a scoreless eighth. Rays reliever Jake McGee, who surrendered two of those three eighth inning runs, got the loss.

The two teams will be back at it again tomorrow afternoon as Justin Verlander and James Shields take the hill. Both will be looking for their first win.

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Tigers Vs. Rays: Austin Jackson Ties Game With Home Run, Chases Moore

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Austin Jackson took Matt Moore deep to tie the game at 2-2. The home run was the last pitch that Moore threw.

For Jackson, that home run was his first of the season and third RBI. He hit just 10 long balls during the 2011 season.

Earlier in the inning, Tampa Bay took a 2-1 lead on an RBI single to shortstop by Desmond Jennings that he was able tp beat out. The hit scored Jose Molina, who had doubled.

Moore leaves with a no-decision after throwing 106 pitches over 6.2 innings. He gave up two runs, four hits and five walks, while striking out four batters. He was relieved by Jake McGee, who retired Brennan Boesch to end the inning.

Rick Porcello was done after seven innings innings for Detroit. He gave up seven hits, two runs, one walk and struck out four.

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Tigers Vs. Rays: Porcello, Moore Locked In Duel

The two young guns, Rick Porcello and Matt Moore, are cruising at Comerica Park as the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays are tied 1-1 after five innings.

Both runs were scored in the third inning where in the top half Porcello walked Evan Longoria with the bases loaded. The Tigers quickly responded, though, as Austin Jackson scored on a Moore wild pitch in the bottom of the inning.

While both pitchers have kept the bats in check, they have also been a little bit wild. Porcello has walked three batters while Moore has given up five free passes.

In the bottom of the fifth, Prince Fielder missed an opportunity to break the game open when he flew out to left field with the bases loaded and two outs.

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Tigers Vs. Rays: Early-Season Favorites Start 3-Game Series

Games can only be so important when the season is 1/54 complete. But when the Tigers and Rays start a three-game series Tuesday, a pair of legitimate contenders will be squaring off.