The Detroit Tigers pulled to within one game of .500 on Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field, as Jim Leyland's squad held on for a 5-3 victory to take their third game of the four-game series.
Despite leaving 10 men on base throughout the day, Detroit hitters produced 10 hits, eight of which came against Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb. A promising young righty, Cobb was banished to the locker room after 5.1 innings after blowing a tie game in the sixth inning by surrendering a pair of runs.
Offensively, the Tigers put forth an extremely balanced effort through and through, as outfielder Quintin Berry was the sole Detroit starter to finish the game hitless. Prince Fielder and Alex Avila each recorded 2-for-4 days from the plate, while Austin Jackson drove in his 35th RBI of the year to score Don Kelly on what proved to be the game-winning run in the sixth.
Tigers closer Jose Valverde recorded his 15th save of the year in the final frame, while starter Drew Smyly picked up the win after tossing five innings of three-run ball with four strikeouts. Next up on the docket, the Minnesota Twins will come to town for an important four-game series starting on Monday
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