DETROIT -- Miguel Cabrera
came into Thursday night's game against Tampa Bay without a homer since
May 20, though that didn't give the Rays much confidence.
"We all know what that man can do," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He can hit a homer at any time to any place in any ballpark."
Cabrera, who has been struggling with a sore back, did just that, going the opposite way for a two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-3 victory.
"The way it is going right now, I wasn't sure it was going to get out," he said. "I'm dealing with my back every day, but I still have to go out there and play hard."
The game was tied at three entering the ninth, but Alex Avila singled off Tommy Hunter (0-2) with one out. Andrew Romine pinch ran and trotted home when Cabrera hit his seventh career game-ending homer into the right-field stands.
"That was huge for us, and big for him to get off the slide," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He's definitely a player who can raise his game under pressure."
Justin Wilson (3-2) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief.
Tigers starter Justin Verlander pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and five walks. He's now walked five batters three times this season after not doing it a single time in 2016. He struck out six.
"Seven innings and two runs is a good start," he said. "I could sense it was going to be a close game, so I wanted to keep us in it and give us a chance."
Alex Cobb gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings, striking out three.
Victor Martinez gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with his first RBI of June, a single that snapped a 0-for-16 slump.
Daniel Robertson tied it in the second with a run-scoring groundout, and Logan Morrison put the Rays ahead with a two-out double in the third.
J.D. Martinez's double made it 2-2 in the bottom of the third, but Cobb and Verlander both settled down at that point.
Ian Kinsler led off the seventh with a single and took second on Avila's walk. However, Cobb got Cabrera to bounce into a 5-4-3 double play on his 116th and final pitch.
"Normally, you never want to let Miggy see a pitcher for a fourth time, but Alex was getting him to hit the ball on the ground to third," Cash said. "I decided to take the chance and it worked out."
Jumbo Diaz came out of the bullpen and got Victor Martinez to hit a routine grounder to short, but it went under Robertson's glove, allowing Avila to score the go-ahead run.
"During the pitching change, we had been talking about there being a lot of loose dirt on the infield," Robertson said. "I know Martinez can't run, but I didn't want to get caught between hops, so I came in to get it and my foot just slipped."
Francisco Rodriguez pitched the eighth for Detroit, and allowed a long tying homer to Steven Souza Jr.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: C Wilson Ramos (ACL) went 1 for 3 in a seven-inning catching stint while on rehab at Triple-A Durham. RHP Brad Boxberger (flexor strain) struck out the side in the seventh inning while making his first rehab outing.
Tigers: Victor Martinez left the game after reaching on Robertson's seventh-inning error due to an illness.
SETTING UP CABRERA
Cobb said his approach to Cabrera in the seventh inning was simple: fastballs on the inside corner.
"He was taking every outside pitch the other way, and he was crushing off-speed pitches, so I was going to get beat with my best shot," he said. "That's one of the toughest outs in baseball, but I got it."
K-ROD STRUGGLES AGAIN
Francisco Rodriguez complained to the media earlier this week about his usage since losing the closer's role. He said that he thinks he deserves another shot at late-inning situations and that he's not happy with the lack of communication from Ausmus and pitching coach Rich Dubee.
He got a chance Thursday to pitch in the eighth inning of a tie game, and gave up a 432-foot homer and a double that was measured as 99 mph off the bat.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 4.20) will pitch for Tampa Bay in the second game of a four-game series. Ramirez is 1-1 with a 6.59 ERA in six career appearances, including two starts, against Detroit.
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris is scheduled to start for Detroit on Friday. Norris (3-4, 4.41) is 2-6 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 career starts at Comerica Park.
Tampa Bay Rays
"We all know what that man can do," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He can hit a homer at any time to any place in any ballpark."
Cabrera, who has been struggling with a sore back, did just that, going the opposite way for a two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 5-3 victory.
"The way it is going right now, I wasn't sure it was going to get out," he said. "I'm dealing with my back every day, but I still have to go out there and play hard."
The game was tied at three entering the ninth, but Alex Avila singled off Tommy Hunter (0-2) with one out. Andrew Romine pinch ran and trotted home when Cabrera hit his seventh career game-ending homer into the right-field stands.
"That was huge for us, and big for him to get off the slide," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "He's definitely a player who can raise his game under pressure."
Justin Wilson (3-2) picked up the win with a scoreless inning of relief.
Tigers starter Justin Verlander pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and five walks. He's now walked five batters three times this season after not doing it a single time in 2016. He struck out six.
"Seven innings and two runs is a good start," he said. "I could sense it was going to be a close game, so I wanted to keep us in it and give us a chance."
Alex Cobb gave up three runs on eight hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings, striking out three.
Victor Martinez gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead with his first RBI of June, a single that snapped a 0-for-16 slump.
Daniel Robertson tied it in the second with a run-scoring groundout, and Logan Morrison put the Rays ahead with a two-out double in the third.
J.D. Martinez's double made it 2-2 in the bottom of the third, but Cobb and Verlander both settled down at that point.
Ian Kinsler led off the seventh with a single and took second on Avila's walk. However, Cobb got Cabrera to bounce into a 5-4-3 double play on his 116th and final pitch.
"Normally, you never want to let Miggy see a pitcher for a fourth time, but Alex was getting him to hit the ball on the ground to third," Cash said. "I decided to take the chance and it worked out."
Jumbo Diaz came out of the bullpen and got Victor Martinez to hit a routine grounder to short, but it went under Robertson's glove, allowing Avila to score the go-ahead run.
"During the pitching change, we had been talking about there being a lot of loose dirt on the infield," Robertson said. "I know Martinez can't run, but I didn't want to get caught between hops, so I came in to get it and my foot just slipped."
Francisco Rodriguez pitched the eighth for Detroit, and allowed a long tying homer to Steven Souza Jr.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: C Wilson Ramos (ACL) went 1 for 3 in a seven-inning catching stint while on rehab at Triple-A Durham. RHP Brad Boxberger (flexor strain) struck out the side in the seventh inning while making his first rehab outing.
Tigers: Victor Martinez left the game after reaching on Robertson's seventh-inning error due to an illness.
SETTING UP CABRERA
Cobb said his approach to Cabrera in the seventh inning was simple: fastballs on the inside corner.
"He was taking every outside pitch the other way, and he was crushing off-speed pitches, so I was going to get beat with my best shot," he said. "That's one of the toughest outs in baseball, but I got it."
K-ROD STRUGGLES AGAIN
Francisco Rodriguez complained to the media earlier this week about his usage since losing the closer's role. He said that he thinks he deserves another shot at late-inning situations and that he's not happy with the lack of communication from Ausmus and pitching coach Rich Dubee.
He got a chance Thursday to pitch in the eighth inning of a tie game, and gave up a 432-foot homer and a double that was measured as 99 mph off the bat.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (3-1, 4.20) will pitch for Tampa Bay in the second game of a four-game series. Ramirez is 1-1 with a 6.59 ERA in six career appearances, including two starts, against Detroit.
Tigers: LHP Daniel Norris is scheduled to start for Detroit on Friday. Norris (3-4, 4.41) is 2-6 with a 4.52 ERA in 14 career starts at Comerica Park.
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Tampa Bay - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Smith grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Dickerson flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Longoria struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Kinsler hit by pitch. | 0 | 0 |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Kinsler stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Cabrera grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| V. Martínez singled to center, Kinsler scored. | 0 | 1 |
| J.D. Martinez singled to center, V. Martínez to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Upton fouled out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Morrison singled to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Souza Jr. walked, Morrison to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Rasmus grounded out to first, Morrison to third, Souza Jr. to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Robertson grounded out to second, Morrison scored, Souza Jr. to third. | 1 | 1 |
| Martínez walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Sucre struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Castellanos lined out to center. | 1 | 1 |
| Presley flied out to right. | 1 | 1 |
| Iglesias doubled to shallow left. | 1 | 1 |
| Kinsler grounded out to third. | 1 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Smith singled to right. | 1 | 1 |
| Dickerson struck out swinging. | 1 | 1 |
| Longoria flied out to left. | 1 | 1 |
| Morrison doubled to deep center, Smith scored. | 2 | 1 |
| Souza Jr. lined out to left. | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| Cabrera doubled to left. | 2 | 1 |
| V. Martínez grounded out to second, Cabrera to third. | 2 | 1 |
| J.D. Martinez doubled to deep right, Cabrera scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Upton walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Castellanos safe at first on error by shortstop Robertson, J.D. Martinez to third, Upton to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Presley grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Rasmus singled to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Robertson walked, Rasmus to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Martínez struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| Sucre grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Robertson out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Iglesias grounded out to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Kinsler lined out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Avila struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Smith struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| Dickerson popped out to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Longoria singled to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Morrison walked, Longoria to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Souza Jr. struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Cabrera grounded out to third. | 2 | 2 |
| V. Martínez singled to center. | 2 | 2 |
| J.D. Martinez grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, V. Martínez out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Rasmus singled to right center. | 2 | 2 |
| Robertson grounded into double play, second to first, Rasmus out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| Martínez lined out to center. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Upton popped out to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Castellanos lined out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Presley doubled to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Iglesias grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Sucre grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| Smith walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Dickerson grounded into fielder's choice to third, Smith out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| Longoria grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Alex Cobb pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Kinsler reached on infield single to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Avila walked, Kinsler to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Cabrera grounded into double play, third to second to first, Avila out at second, Kinsler to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Díaz relieved Cobb. | 2 | 2 |
| V. Martínez safe at first on error by shortstop Robertson, Kinsler scored. | 2 | 3 |
| Machado ran for V. Martínez. | 2 | 3 |
| J.D. Martinez popped out to first. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Francisco Rodriguez pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| Rodríguez relieved Verlander. | 2 | 3 |
| Morrison flied out to left. | 2 | 3 |
| Souza Jr. homered to left (432 feet). | 3 | 3 |
| Rasmus doubled to deep right. | 3 | 3 |
| Robertson grounded out to third. | 3 | 3 |
| Beckham hit for Martínez. | 3 | 3 |
| Beckham grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jumbo Diaz pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Robertson at second base. | 3 | 3 |
| Beckham at shortstop. | 3 | 3 |
| Upton flied out to right. | 3 | 3 |
| Castellanos singled to center. | 3 | 3 |
| Presley struck out swinging. | 3 | 3 |
| Iglesias lined out to first. | 3 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Tampa Bay - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Justin Wilson pitching for Detroit | TB | DET |
| J. Wilson relieved Rodríguez. | 3 | 3 |
| Sucre flied out to right. | 3 | 3 |
| Smith struck out swinging. | 3 | 3 |
| Dickerson singled to shallow left. | 3 | 3 |
| Longoria struck out swinging. | 3 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Tommy Hunter pitching for Tampa Bay | TB | DET |
| Hunter relieved Díaz. | 3 | 3 |
| Kinsler grounded out to third. | 3 | 3 |
| Avila singled to right center. | 3 | 3 |
| Romine ran for Avila. | 3 | 3 |
| Cabrera homered to right (364 feet), Romine scored. | 3 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Tampa Bay Rays
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 21 | .340 | .411 | .440 |
| Dickerson DH | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .332 | .369 | .600 |
| Longoria 3B | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .257 | .323 | .422 |
| Morrison 1B | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .244 | .349 | .557 |
| Souza Jr. RF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .260 | .374 | .485 |
| Rasmus LF | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | .292 | .331 | .602 |
| Robertson SS-2B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .204 | .310 | .350 |
| Martínez 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 | .167 | .268 | .194 |
a-Beckham PH-SS
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .281 | .320 | .443 |
| Sucre C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .231 | .253 | .346 |
| Totals | 34 | 3 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 143 | |||
| a-grounded to shortstop for M Martinez in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Morrison (12, Verlander); Rasmus (6, Rodríguez) HR: Souza Jr. (12, 8th inning off Rodríguez 0 on, 1 Out) RBI: Robertson (9), Morrison (44), Souza Jr. (39) 2-out RBI: Morrison GIDP: Sucre, Robertson Rays RISP: 0-9 (Robertson 0-2, Rasmus 0-1, Souza Jr. 0-2, Martínez 0-1, Sucre 0-2, Beckham 0-1) Team LOB: 9 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Robertson 2 (4, ground ball 2) DP: 2 (Robertson-Martínez-Morrison, Longoria-Martínez-Morrison). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Attendance | 24,056 (57.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:29 |
| Weather | 83 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 9 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Ben May, First Base - Ed Hickox, Second Base - Jerry Meals, Third Base - Chris Conroy |
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