Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Kevin Kiermaier hit two triples and drove in three runs to lead the Tampa Bay Rays in a 7-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Logan Forsythe hit a solo home run and drove in a pair, while Desmond Jennings and Brandon Guyer each had an RBI for the Rays, who have taken the past two games after dropping the opener of this four-game set.
Chris Archer (5-5) pitched into the ninth, but was pulled with one out. He was charged with two runs on six hits with four walks and four strikeouts.
J.D. Martinez and Alex Avila hit solo home runs for the Tigers, who had won four straight prior to dropping the last two. Anibal Sanchez (5-3) allowed seven runs on six hits with four walks in 5 2/3 innings.
The game stayed scoreless until the fifth inning when Forsythe homered to left with one out in the frame. Ryan Hanigan walked and Kiermaier followed with a triple. Jennings singled home Kiermaier for a 3-0 lead.
In the sixth, the Rays padded their lead with four more runs. Guyer sacrificed home a run with a fly ball, Forsythe brought home another with a suicide- squeeze, and Kiermaier later hit his second triple of the game for a 7-0 advantage.
Avila's homer in the seventh inning, a blast to right, got Detroit on the board.
Martinez homered off the left field foul pole to start the ninth. Torii Hunter then singled and Avila walked following a strikeout by Nick Castellanos.
Grant Balfour took over on the mound and struck out Andrew Romine and Rajai Davis to end the game.
Game Notes
Tampa was 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base, while Detroit was 0-for-6 with RISP and left seven ... Tampa is 8-2 on its 11- game road trip that will wrap up on Sunday in the series finale ... David Price pitches for Tampa on Sunday and will be opposed by Rick Porcello.
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