Colt Keith drove in two runs, Justyn-Henry Malloy knocked in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly and the streaking Detroit Tigers rallied past the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Thursday afternoon.
The Tigers (85-74) moved closer to an American League wild-card playoff berth with their fifth straight win. Detroit stands 2 1/2 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins, who play Thursday night.
Matt Vierling reached base three times and scored twice for the Tigers, who overcame a three-run deficit.
Beau Brieske (4-4) tossed two perfect innings of relief to pick up the win. Jason Foley got the last three outs for his 27th save.
Detroit starter Reese Olson gave up two runs and four hits in four innings.
Brandon Lowe drove in two runs for the Rays (78-81). Starter Tyler Alexander held the Tigers scoreless over the first five innings, striking out six without a walk.
The Tigers took the lead with Garrett Cleavinger (7-5) on the mound in the eighth. Riley Greene singled and moved up on a wild pitch. Vierling drew another walk before Keith lined a single to center, bringing home Greene. Vierling scored on Malloy’s sacrifice fly to center.
Neither team had a baserunner in the first two innings. That changed in the top of the third. Ben Rortvedt and Taylor Walls had one-out singles and moved up on a groundout. Lowe then lined a single past second baseman Keith, allowing both runners to score.
Parker Meadows blooped a double with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Alexander then struck out Andy Ibanez.
Tampa Bay increased its lead to 3-0 in the fifth. Walls ripped a triple down the right field line off Casey Mize. With Christopher Morel at bat, Walls scored on a wild pitch.
The Tigers had two baserunners in the bottom of the inning. Trey Sweeney and Meadows grounded singles up the middle but Ibanez flied out to leave them stranded.
Detroit broke through in the sixth. Vierling drew a two-out walk off Hunter Bigge and Keith followed with a triple toward the right field corner. Pinch hitter Kerry Carpenter smacked a single to bring home Keith and make it 3-2.
–Field Level Media
