Detroit Tigers fall to Tampa Bay Rays, drop series finale 7-3

Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers sent Rick Porcello(L, 11-5, 3.53 ERA) to the mound against the Tampa Bay Rays and All Star David Price, and Porcello had a decidedly rocky, disappointing outing. Rick had issues keeping the ball down and ended his scoreless innings streak at 25 after giving up a lead off double to Desmond Jennings in the first, who scored when Ben Zobrist singled in the next at bat. Matt Joyce then hit a two run homer to give the Rays a 3-0 lead and they wouldn’t look back. Porcello settled in after the first inning, and pitched well from the second through the fourth, before giving up another run on a Zobrist single, Joyce walk and Longoria RBI single. Porcello had trouble again with one out in the sixth, giving up back to back singles to Sean Rodriguez and Jose Molina before a Kevin Kiermaier force out that scored Rodriguez. Desmond Jennings homered in the next at bat, scoring two more runs against Porcello. Manager Brad Ausmus visited the mound, removing Porcello for recently re-activated Ian Krol. Krol gave up singles to Zobrist and Joyce before he was removed in favor of Chad Smith. Smith ended the inning without allowing either of his inherited runners to score.

Al Alburquerque and Joe Nathan both pitched scoreless innings, both collected two strike outs and gave up two hits.

Porcello’s final line: 5.2IP, 11H, 7R/ER, 1BB, 2K

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The Tigers’ offense was shut down against Price. For a third consecutive game, the Tigers’ couldn’t seem to get any thing going, and when they did, well, luck wasn’t on their side. The Tigers scored one to narrow the defecit in the first, but were unable to capitalize again until the seventh inning, when Torii Hunter led off with a solo home run. Eugenio Suarez followed Hunter’s homer with a single, and looked poised to score on an Austin Jackson double two outs later, but stumbled after rounding third and was easily tagged out. J.D. Martinez led off the ninth with another solo home run, but the rally faltered and the Tigers’ offense couldn’t make up the difference.

The Tigers are off tomorrow before beginning a two game home series with the Dodgers on Tuesday.