Tigers 5, Rays 4
DETROIT -- Rajai Davis homered twice for the second time in his career, including a go-ahead solo blast in the seventh, and the Detroit Tigers topped the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Monday afternoon at Comerica Park.
The Tigers' left fielder, who came into the game with four home runs, also hit a two-run shot in the third. Davis' only other multi-homer game came on May 18, 2012, against the New York Mets while playing for Toronto.
Al Alburquerque (4-1) pitched an inning of scoreless relief to collect the victory for the Tigers (63-74), who had lost 13 of their previous 16 games. Detroit catcher James McCann supplied three hits, including a two-run homer, and Bruce Rondon escaped a bases-loaded jam to notch his fourth save.
Designated hitter Evan Longoria had a two-run homer and catcher J.P. Arencibia added a solo shot for the Rays (67-70), who have lost four of their last five. Reliever Brandon Gomes (2-5) gave up Davis' second home run and took the loss.
Rays starter Drew Smyly, facing his former club for the first time, allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings. He was acquired by Tampa Bay during last year's trade deadline.
Making just his second start this month, Davis lined a hanging breaking ball over the left field wall to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the third. That followed center fielder Anthony Gose's leadoff bloop double.
Longoria tied it the next inning with his fifth homer in the last seven games.
McCann answered in the bottom of the inning with his seventh home run to put the Tigers back on top 4-2. He pulled an 82-mph pitch into the left field stands after third baseman Nick Castellanos led off with a double.
Detroit starter Randy Wolf couldn't hold the lead in the fifth. Arencibia crushed a one-out solo shot off the left-center field brick wall that traveled an estimated 464 feet. Left fielder Brandon Guyer followed with a double and scored on Mikie Mahtook's ensuing single.
Davis smashed another hanging breaking ball, this time from Gomes, with one out in the seventh to give Detroit a 5-4 lead.
NOTES: Detroit DH Victor Martinez was out of the lineup because of an illness, according to manager Brad Ausmus. ... The Rays have played a major-league-high 79 games decided by one or two runs. They are 40-39 in those games. ... Rays OF Steven Souza Jr., who has been out since Aug. 1 with a left hand fracture, completed a three-game rehab stint with Triple A Durham on Monday. He will likely continue his rehab assignment this week with Class A-Advanced Charlotte before rejoining the Rays. "I know he's itching to get back and he's worked really hard to get back," manager Kevin Cash said. "We want to make sure it's the right time." ... Detroit LHP Daniel Norris will throw another bullpen session and then a simulated game this week as he works his way back from a right oblique strain. Norris threw a 30-pitch bullpen session on Sunday.