Tigers 6, Rays 0
Victor Martinez belted his fourth career grand slam and Rick Porcello pitched a three-hitter as visiting Detroit defeated Tampa Bay for the second straight night.
Martinez finished 2-for-3 with walk and five RBIs for the Tigers, who climbed within one game of first-place Kansas City in the American League Central and moved one ahead of Seattle for the second wild-card spot. Porcello (14-8) struck out four and did not walk a batter en route to his third shutout of the season.
Ben Zobrist was stranded at third base after hitting a one-out double in the first inning for the Rays, who dropped their fourth straight to fall eight games behind Detroit in the wild-card race. Jake Odorizzi (9-10) yielded three runs on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.
Miguel Cabrera reached on an infield hit with two outs in first inning and came around on a double down the right-field line by Martinez to open the scoring. The Tigers left the bases loaded in the sixth, but Rajai Davis doubled to the left-center field wall with two outs in the seventh and scored on Ian Kinsler’s base hit for a 2-0 lead.
Torii Hunter continued the inning with a single, Cabrera drew a walk and Martinez launched a 1-2 pitch from Kirby Yates into the right-field seats for his 24th homer. Porcello, who gave up seven runs over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Tampa Bay on July 6, retired 20 straight batters before James Loney singled to open the eighth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Martinez is 10-for-24 with 11 RBIs over his last seven contests. ... The Rays optioned INF-DH Vince Belnome to Triple-A Durham to make room for the return of OF-DH Wil Myers, who went 0-for-3 after being on the disabled list since late May with a fractured right wrist. … Porcello tossed his fourth complete game in the majors and matched his career high in victories – also winning 14 in 2009 and 2011.