Maybin, Zimmerman lead Tigers over Rays
DETROIT -- Cameron Maybin drove in three runs Sunday and Jordan Zimmerman notched his sixth victory despite leaving with a right groin strain to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 9-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez also had two RBIs apiece in what was the Tigers' sixth win in seven tries.
Detroit's lead had been trimmed to 6-4 in the seventh when Maybin walked with the bases and loaded and one out against left-hander Dana Eveland, who got the next two outs without another run scoring.
That boosted the Tigers up to a 7-4 lead and Martinez made it 9-4 with a two-run home run, his sixth, in the eighth.
Zimmermann (7-2) pitched five-hit ball over 5 2/3 innings before leaving with the injury. He didn't walk anybody and struck out three while allowing two runs.
Drew VerHagen got the final out of the sixth but gave up a two-run home run to Tim Beckham in the seventh. Southpaw Kyle Ryan got pinch-hitter Mikie Mahtook for the final out of the seventh.
Mark Lowe pitched the eighth and Alex Wilson the ninth for Detroit.
Chris Archer (3-5) was drummed for six runs on eight hits over the three innings he worked, walking one and striking out four. He allowed multiple hard-hit balls in the first and third.
Ian Kinsler singled in the first and scored on a line double to left center by J.D. Martinez, who scored on a single to center by Cabrera. Andrew Romine had an RBI double to extreme right in the second to break a 2-2 tie.
Cabrera led off the third with his ninth home run of the season, a towering line drive to dead center that hit the shrubbery just above the wall. Victor Martinez singled, Nick Castellanos doubled him to third and both scored on a sharp single to right by Maybin to make it 6-2.
Cabrera left the game for a pinch-runner in the seventh after being hit on the left knee by an Eveland pitch. It was announced as a left knee contusion by the Tigers and Cabrera is day-to-day.
Archer was relieved at the beginning of the fourth by Ryan Webb, who worked three scoreless innings. Steve Geltz gave up the two-run home run to Martinez.
The Rays got their best shot at Zimmermann in the second inning, getting both their runs on a home run by Logan Morrison. Steven Souza Jr. beat out a single to short ahead of Morrison's second home run of the season.
Beckham followed with a two-out single but Zimmermann then pitched hitless ball until Evan Longoria beat out a single to third with two out in the sixth.
Zimmerman threw one more pitch after Longoria's single and then was removed when he hopped and grimaced with what was later announced as a right groin muscle strain.
NOTES: Center field will be a "match-up" proposition, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said, although Mikie Mahtook could seize the job if he hits. Regular Kevin Keirmaier suffered two broken bones in his hand Saturday and will be out indefinitely. ... RHP Francisco Rodriguez entered Sunday with 12 straight save conversions for Detroit. ... Rays RHP Brad Boxberger (adductor surgery) threw 27 pitches Saturday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Durham and the closer was slated to pitch again Sunday. He could return to the majors this week. ... Tigers CF Cameron Maybin will draw a slight fine for slamming his bat and helmet to the ground after striking out in the eighth inning Saturday.