Sports Network | August 11, 2010
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Ryan Raburn's sixth-inning home run was the difference-maker, leading the Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 victory in the finale of a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Comerica Park. Raburn's two-run shot helped Justin Verlander (13-7) win for the first time in four starts. Verlander lasted six innings, allowing just one run on six hits and three walks while fanning seven to help Detroit salvage a win in the seven-game season series against Tampa Bay. Brandon Inge added two hits and an RBI for the Tigers, who had lost six of their previous seven. Jose Valverdeearned his first save since July 25 and 22nd of the season. Matt Joyce went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Rays, who were looking to record the first season sweep of an AL club in franchise history. Matt Garza (11-7), who no-hit the Tigers almost three weeks ago, is winless since, as he yielded three runs, seven hits and three walks in 5 2/3 frames. Raburn broke a 1-1 tie in the home sixth with his two-run blast, his fourth home run of the season. Inge preceeded him with a one-out single to center off Garza, and Raburn followed with a 1-0 clout over the left field wall. Ryan Perry started on the hill for Detroit in the seventh and worked around a leadoff walk, eventually inducing an inning-ending double play groundout, and he recorded the first two outs in the eighth before Valverde took over. Valverde, though, ran into some trouble in the ninth. B.J. Upton worked a leadoff walk and attempted to steal second. Catcher Gerald Laird sent the throw into center field, allowing Upton to reach third. Jason Bartlett was retired on a shallow fly ball to right, and John Jaso followed with an RBI groundout to first. Dan Johnson's fly out to right ended the game. After the Rays squandered a bases loaded, two-out opportunity in the second, the Tigers got on the board in the home half. Miguel Cabrera doubled leading off, although the next two batters were retired. Inge made sure Cabrera wouldn't be stranded, hitting an RBI single to center for a 1-0 lead. Evan Longoria helped Tampa Bay tie the game in the sixth, leading off the inning with a triple into the right-center field gap. Joyce followed with a single to right for a 1-1 game. Garza no-hit the Tigers on July 26, the first no-hitter in Rays history...Tampa Bay went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position on Wednesday and 4-for-35 in the series...Valverde has converted 22 straight save chances.
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