ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Steven Souza Jr.'s simple approach at the plate is working.
Souza came within a single of hitting for the cycle, Erasmo Ramirez and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Detroit 8-1 Thursday for a three-game sweep of the Tigers.
"Just letting my ability play," Souza said. "I can really overthink things, and put a lot of pressure on myself. Throughout the years, I think that's what I've done."
Souza doubled in the first, hit a two-run triple in the second and added a solo homer in the eighth. He has reached base multiple times in 12 games this season.
"I think we're seeing him put it together," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Ramirez (2-0) allowed one run and two hits in five innings with five strikeouts and no walks. In the rotation because Jake Odorizzi strained his left hamstring, Ramirez had not started since April 16 last year.
Chase Whitley gave up a hit and two walks in three innings, and Tommy Hunter allowed two hits in the ninth.
Tampa Bay rookie Daniel Robertson hit his first career homer, an eighth-inning solo shot off Warwick Saupold.
The Tigers were outscored 21-9 in series and while making just two errors allowed several catchable balls to fall for hits.
"I'll be honest with you, this is the worst defensive series I've seen the Detroit Tigers play since I've been here," manager Brad Ausmus said.
Daniel Norris (1-1) gave up five runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Ian Kinsler hit his 41st leadoff homer, but Tampa Bay tied the score in the bottom half after Souza doubled on a fly ball that right fielder Tyler Collins appeared to lose. He scored when Dixon Machado, filling in for injured shortstop Jose Iglesias, made an errant throw after fielding Rickie Weeks' grounder.
Souza tripled on an opposite-field flare that bounced past Collins near the right-field line, then scored on Kevin Kiermaier's single for a 4-1 lead.
Kiermaier homered off Saupold in the seventh.
Saupold was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after the game, and left-hander Blaine Hardy will be recalled from the International League club.
SHORT STAFFED
The game started with just three umpires because crew chief Larry Vanover left due to a personal matter. Joe West was brought in to fill out the crew and arrived to take the field in the bottom of the first.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: OF Justin Upton (bruised right forearm) was out of the lineup for the second straight game but is swinging a bat. ... Iglesias was hit on the jaw by the knee of a sliding Brad Miller in the ninth inning Wednesday night after stumbling over second base and then making a bad throw to first on a potential game-ending double play as the tying and winning runs scored. Ausmus said Iglesias still had a headache and his status "will be determined in the near future."
Rays: OF Colby Rasmus (hip surgery) is scheduled to resume his minor league rehab assignment Saturday with Double-A Montgomery. He has not played the past two weeks due to a sore knee.
STREAK OVER
Norris entered without a loss in his first 16 career road starts, which tied Todd Wellemeyer and Larry Jansen for the second longest stretch since 1913. Only Dave LaPoint has more with 20.
UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (1-1) looks to rebound Friday night against Minnesota after allowing a career-high-tying nine runs Saturday at Cleveland. He has won 12 of his last 13 decisions against the Twins, dating to July 9, 2010.
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (1-1) goes against Houston RHP Mike Fiers (0-1) Friday night.
Detroit Tigers
Souza came within a single of hitting for the cycle, Erasmo Ramirez and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Detroit 8-1 Thursday for a three-game sweep of the Tigers.
"Just letting my ability play," Souza said. "I can really overthink things, and put a lot of pressure on myself. Throughout the years, I think that's what I've done."
Souza doubled in the first, hit a two-run triple in the second and added a solo homer in the eighth. He has reached base multiple times in 12 games this season.
"I think we're seeing him put it together," Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
Ramirez (2-0) allowed one run and two hits in five innings with five strikeouts and no walks. In the rotation because Jake Odorizzi strained his left hamstring, Ramirez had not started since April 16 last year.
Chase Whitley gave up a hit and two walks in three innings, and Tommy Hunter allowed two hits in the ninth.
Tampa Bay rookie Daniel Robertson hit his first career homer, an eighth-inning solo shot off Warwick Saupold.
The Tigers were outscored 21-9 in series and while making just two errors allowed several catchable balls to fall for hits.
"I'll be honest with you, this is the worst defensive series I've seen the Detroit Tigers play since I've been here," manager Brad Ausmus said.
Daniel Norris (1-1) gave up five runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings.
Ian Kinsler hit his 41st leadoff homer, but Tampa Bay tied the score in the bottom half after Souza doubled on a fly ball that right fielder Tyler Collins appeared to lose. He scored when Dixon Machado, filling in for injured shortstop Jose Iglesias, made an errant throw after fielding Rickie Weeks' grounder.
Souza tripled on an opposite-field flare that bounced past Collins near the right-field line, then scored on Kevin Kiermaier's single for a 4-1 lead.
Kiermaier homered off Saupold in the seventh.
Saupold was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after the game, and left-hander Blaine Hardy will be recalled from the International League club.
SHORT STAFFED
The game started with just three umpires because crew chief Larry Vanover left due to a personal matter. Joe West was brought in to fill out the crew and arrived to take the field in the bottom of the first.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Tigers: OF Justin Upton (bruised right forearm) was out of the lineup for the second straight game but is swinging a bat. ... Iglesias was hit on the jaw by the knee of a sliding Brad Miller in the ninth inning Wednesday night after stumbling over second base and then making a bad throw to first on a potential game-ending double play as the tying and winning runs scored. Ausmus said Iglesias still had a headache and his status "will be determined in the near future."
Rays: OF Colby Rasmus (hip surgery) is scheduled to resume his minor league rehab assignment Saturday with Double-A Montgomery. He has not played the past two weeks due to a sore knee.
STREAK OVER
Norris entered without a loss in his first 16 career road starts, which tied Todd Wellemeyer and Larry Jansen for the second longest stretch since 1913. Only Dave LaPoint has more with 20.
UP NEXT
Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (1-1) looks to rebound Friday night against Minnesota after allowing a career-high-tying nine runs Saturday at Cleveland. He has won 12 of his last 13 decisions against the Twins, dating to July 9, 2010.
Rays: RHP Alex Cobb (1-1) goes against Houston RHP Mike Fiers (0-1) Friday night.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Detroit - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Kinsler homered to left (343 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Collins flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Cabrera grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Castellanos struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Daniel Norris pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Souza Jr. doubled to deep right. | 1 | 0 |
| Kiermaier sacrificed to third, Souza Jr. to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Longoria struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Weeks Jr. safe at first on throwing error by shortstop Machado, Souza Jr. scored. | 1 | 1 |
| Miller popped out to second. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Avila struck out looking. | 1 | 1 |
| McCann lined out to center. | 1 | 1 |
| Romine lined out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Daniel Norris pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Beckham singled to left. | 1 | 1 |
| Robertson grounded into fielder's choice to second, Beckham out at second. | 1 | 1 |
| Sucre struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Bourjos singled to right, Robertson to third. | 1 | 1 |
| Souza Jr. tripled to right, Robertson and Bourjos scored. | 1 | 3 |
| Kiermaier singled to right, Souza Jr. scored. | 1 | 4 |
| Longoria singled to shallow left, Kiermaier to second. | 1 | 4 |
| Weeks Jr. struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| 3 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Jones struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| Machado grounded out to third. | 1 | 4 |
| Kinsler struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Daniel Norris pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Miller flied out to left. | 1 | 4 |
| Beckham lined out to shortstop. | 1 | 4 |
| Robertson struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Collins lined out to right. | 1 | 4 |
| Cabrera lined out to third. | 1 | 4 |
| Castellanos singled to left. | 1 | 4 |
| Avila flied out to center. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Daniel Norris pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Sucre singled to shallow center. | 1 | 4 |
| Bourjos grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Sucre out at second. | 1 | 4 |
| Souza Jr. flied out to center. | 1 | 4 |
| Kiermaier flied out to left. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Erasmo Ramirez pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| McCann grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 4 |
| Romine grounded out to first. | 1 | 4 |
| Jones struck out swinging. | 1 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Daniel Norris pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Longoria grounded out to second. | 1 | 4 |
| Weeks Jr. walked. | 1 | 4 |
| Miller doubled to left, Weeks Jr. to third. | 1 | 4 |
| Beckham grounded out to third, Weeks Jr. scored, Miller to third. | 1 | 5 |
| Robertson walked. | 1 | 5 |
| Saupold relieved Norris. | 1 | 5 |
| Miller out at home on runner's fielder's choice. | 1 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chase Whitley pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Whitley relieved Ramírez. | 1 | 5 |
| Machado grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 5 |
| Kinsler lined out to center. | 1 | 5 |
| Collins flied out to center. | 1 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Warwick Saupold pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Sucre flied out to center. | 1 | 5 |
| Bourjos struck out swinging. | 1 | 5 |
| Souza Jr. struck out looking. | 1 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chase Whitley pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Cabrera lined out to center. | 1 | 5 |
| Castellanos walked. | 1 | 5 |
| Avila flied out to left. | 1 | 5 |
| McCann struck out swinging. | 1 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Warwick Saupold pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Kiermaier homered to center (416 feet). | 1 | 6 |
| Longoria flied out to center. | 1 | 6 |
| Weeks Jr. hit by pitch. | 1 | 6 |
| Miller flied out to left. | 1 | 6 |
| Beckham flied out to center. | 1 | 6 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Chase Whitley pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Romine struck out swinging. | 1 | 6 |
| Jones lined out to center. | 1 | 6 |
| Machado singled to center. | 1 | 6 |
| Kinsler walked, Machado to second. | 1 | 6 |
| Collins struck out looking. | 1 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Warwick Saupold pitching for Detroit | DET | TB |
| Robertson homered to left (397 feet). | 1 | 7 |
| Sucre fouled out to first. | 1 | 7 |
| Bourjos struck out swinging. | 1 | 7 |
| Souza Jr. homered to left (349 feet). | 1 | 8 |
| Kiermaier walked. | 1 | 8 |
| Longoria flied out to left. | 1 | 8 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Tommy Hunter pitching for Tampa Bay | DET | TB |
| Hunter relieved Whitley. | 1 | 8 |
| Cabrera grounded out to second. | 1 | 8 |
| Castellanos singled to center. | 1 | 8 |
| Avila lined out to left. | 1 | 8 |
| McCann singled to center, Castellanos to second. | 1 | 8 |
| Romine grounded out to first. | 1 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Detroit Tigers
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinsler 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .217 | .400 | .435 |
| Collins RF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .262 | .279 | .333 |
| Cabrera DH | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | .226 | .339 | .434 |
| Castellanos 3B | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 21 | .242 | .288 | .500 |
| Avila 1B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .412 | .524 | .882 |
| McCann C | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .147 | .275 | .412 |
| Romine LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .219 | .242 | .438 |
| Jones CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .167 | .250 | .333 |
| Machado SS | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .111 | .111 | .111 |
| Totals | 32 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 132 | |||
| BATTING HR: Kinsler (3, 1st inning off Ramírez 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Kinsler (6) Tigers RISP: 0-2 (Collins 0-1, Romine 0-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Machado (1, throw) | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, FL |
| Attendance | 13,267 (42.7% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:02 |
| Weather | indoors |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Alfonso Marquez, First Base - Chad Fairchild, Second Base - David Rackley, Third Base - Joe West |
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