St. Petersburg, FL (Sports Network) - One night after Matt Garza pitched the first no-hitter in Tampa Bay franchise history, the Rays used a solid outing from starter James Shields and a timely RBI double by Matt Joyce to defeat the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the continuation of a four-game series.
Shields (9-9) allowed two runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts for the Rays, who have won four straight and moved within two games of the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East. Carlos Pena hit a two-run homer in the victory.
Ryan Raburn drove in a run for the Tigers, who have dropped four of their last five contests.
Detroit's ace right-hander Justin Verlander pitched a complete game but suffered the loss. Verlander (12-6), who lost for the first time in his career against the Rays, permitted three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks.