Tigers 5, Rays 2
Justin Verlander allowed three hits over seven innings to win his seventh straight start and Alex Avila belted a two-run homer in the second inning as the visiting Detroit Tigers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 5-2 on Monday night.
Verlander (19-5) struck out eight, walked three and threw 116 pitches, allowing only one run in the first, as the Tigers won their fourth straight to open a 5 1/2-game lead over Cleveland and Chicago atop the AL Central.
Avila continued his hot hitting with his fifth home run in August. Jhonny Peralta added two hits, including a two-run single in the eighth off reliever Juan Cruz.
Jeff Niemann (8-5) allowed six hits and four runs over 7 1/3 innings. It was his first loss since May 4.
Matt Joyce led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run for the Rays, his second home run off Verlander this season. Evan Longoria hit a solo shot off Jose Valverde in the ninth.
The loss snapped a seven-game home winning streak for the Rays.