Verlander outlasts Archer, Tigers beat Rays 2-1

Author: associated press
Published:
MGN Online

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Justin Verlander outlasted Chris Archer for his first win this season and the Detroit Tigers avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Wednesday.

Verlander (1-3), who retired his first 14 batters before Asdrubal Cabrera homered on an 0-1 pitch with two outs in the fifth, gave up one run, four hits and had 10 strikeouts.

Archer (9-8) lost a perfect game bid and the lead in the seventh inning. The right-hander, 0-4 over six starts since beating Toronto on June 23, allowed two unearned runs, three hits and struck out 11 in seven innings.

Jose Iglesias became the first Tigers’ base runner with a one-out infield single that Cabrera fielded between short and third, but his off-balance one-hop throw wasn’t in time.

After Cabrera was charged with an error for misplaying Yoenis Cespedes’ grounder, the Tigers took a 2-1 lead on RBI singles by J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos, whose liner deflected off Cabrera’s glove.

Verlander struck out Cabrera with two on to end the seventh. He was making his eighth start after beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained right triceps.

Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.

Cabrera made a nice defensive play in the fourth, diving to his left to catch Ian Kinsler’s hard grounder and then threw out the Tigers leadoff hitter. Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier made a leaping catch with his back facing the infield in deep center field in the sixth to rob James McCann of an extra-base hit.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: LHP Kyle Lobstein (left shoulder) is set to throw batting practice and is nearing a minor league rehab assignment.

Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (torn left labrum) will make his second rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Friday night. OF Desmond Jennings, who has missed 85 games due to a left knee injury, will join Smyly and play in his first minor league game.

UP NEXT

Tigers: RHP Alfredo Simon (9-6), who left last Saturday’s game with a groin strain, is scheduled to face Baltimore RHP Miguel Gonzalez (9-6) in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night.

Rays: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (8-4) will start the first of three games at Boston on Friday night.

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