St. Petersburg, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Rick Porcello tossed his third shutout of the season and the Detroit Tigers grabbed a 6-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the second of a three-game set.
Porcello (14-8) gave up just three hits and struck out four, retiring 20 straight batters at one point, to snap a string of three straight losing starts.
Victor Martinez provided a grand slam and five RBI, while Ian Kinsler drove in the other run for the Tigers, who have won five of the last seven games.
"Obviously Porcello was the big factor in this game, we can't ask for anything more," said Detroit manager Brad Ausmus. "Of course, the big grand slam from Victor was that big hit we've talked about in the past."
Detroit gained a game on Kansas City for first place in the AL Central, as the Tigers sit one game back of the Royals, who lost to the Rockies on Wednesday.
Jake Odorizzi (9-10) allowed three runs on five hits with a pair of walks and seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings for the Rays, who have lost four straight.
"We usually play a lot better at home but it's been the opposite this year," said Odorizzi. "It's getting to that time of the year where you can't lose this many games in a row when you're trying to make a comeback."
The Tigers got a two-out single from Miguel Cabrera in the first and Martinez plated him with a double for a 1-0 lead.
Tampa got a one-out double from Ben Zobrist in the first, and he moved to third on a Matt Joyce groundout. Evan Longoria, though, grounded out to end the inning.
Detroit left the bases loaded in the sixth inning, but blew the game open in the seventh.
With two outs, Rajai Davis doubled and Kinsler followed with a single that allowed Davis to cross the plate.
Kirby Yates then took the mound and gave up a single to Torii Hunter then walked Cabrera. Martinez followed with a blast over the right-field wall for a grand slam and a 6-0 lead.
Porcello, meanwhile, was lights out, not allowing a baserunner after the first inning until James Loney led off the eighth with a single. He retired the next three batters, then pitched around a one-out single in the ninth to cap his fourth career complete game.
Game Notes
The Rays activated outfielder Wil Myers, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, from the 60-day disabled list on Wednesday. He went 0-for-3 as the designated hitter ... Each team has won three games in the season series ... Porcello improved to 3-3 in seven games against the Rays in his career.
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