Maybin's pinch-hit double helps Tigers sweep sinking Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Down in the eighth inning, Detroit's Cameron Maybin came through with a two-run, pinch-hit double with two outs, helping the Tigers rally for their sixth straight win, 5-1, to close out a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field.
It was another late-inning collapse for the Rays (33-48), who opened the series Thursday by giving up eight runs in the ninth inning in a 10-7 loss and have now dropped 16 of 18 games. Detroit (44-38) now heads to Cleveland with momentum and hoping to avenge a three-game sweep last week.
Down 1-0 in the eighth, Detroit rallied for three runs as Ian Kinsler doubled and scored on an RBI groundout from Victor Martinez. With runners at first and second and one out, Martinez hit a grounder to first, where Logan Morrison threw to second to set up the double play, but the throw to first wasn't in time, nor was the throw home as Kinsler slid in.
It only got worse for the Rays, as reliever Xavier Cedeno gave up a single to Nick Castellanos, then the two-run double by Maybin, who has had a strong series against the Rays.
Matt Andriese (6-2) left with a 1-0 lead and two on but took the loss when both inherited runners scored.
At the midway point of the season, the Rays' bullpen has given up runs in 17 of the last 18 games. Detroit added two runs in the ninth when Kinsler crushed home run off reliever Danny Farquhar.
Sunday's late-inning collapse spoiled a strong start by Rays starter Chris Archer, who struck out 10 and held Detroit to three hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings. Tampa Bay had been 23-4 when leading after seven innings.
Archer's first six outs all came by strikeout after he got himself into a bases-loaded jam.
Archer opened the game by walking Kinsler, giving up a single to Jose Iglesias and walking Miguel Cabrera, loading the bases with no outs. But he struck out the Tigers' 4-5-6 hitters in order -- Victor Martinez, Castellanos and Justin Upton -- to get out of the inning unharmed.
The Rays' only hits in the first four innings came on two bunts, but they got on the scoreboard in the fifth. Nick Franklin singled and scored on a double by Curt Casali for a 1-0 lead on Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey.
Detroit had a chance to tie the game in the sixth -- Iglesias singled and the Tigers had first and third with two outs after Castellanos was hit by a pitch. But Andriese came in for Archer and got Upton to line up sharply to shortstop Brad Miller to end the inning and keep the shutout intact.
The Rays had an opportunity to extend their lead in the seventh, loading the bases on a Corey Dickerson double and two walks. With the top of the order up, the Tigers turned to reliever Bruce Rondon, who got Logan Forsythe to strike out and Miller to pop to center to end the inning.
The game played out as it did Thursday, when the Rays couldn't get outs after pulling Andriese in relief. Tampa Bay needed three outs with a 7-2 lead Thursday and couldn't win, as was the case Sunday.
NOTES: Rays OF Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch for the 16th time Saturday -- most in the majors -- and in doing so tied Carlos Pena's team overall record of 51. Guyer tied the mark in 2,000 fewer plate appearances than Pena. ... Tigers 2B Ian Kinsler homered in the ninth to become only the fourth active player with 200 career homers, 1,000-plus runs, 1,600-plus hits and 200-plus steals, joining Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez and Jimmy Rollins. ... Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera entered the game needing four RBIs to become the 55th MLB player to reach 1,500 for his career.