Jake Rogers drove in three runs and the host Detroit Tigers spoiled Aaron Civale’s Tampa Bay Rays debut with a 4-2 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Akil Baddoo hit a solo home run and scored two runs for Detroit. Left-hander Tarik Skubal (2-1) collected the victory while giving up one unearned run in 5 1/3 innings. Beau Brieske got the last out to record his first career save.
Civale (5-3), acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline, allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts. He had a 7-0 record in 10 previous starts against the Tigers.
Tampa Bay took advantage of two fielding errors by center fielder Riley Greene to gain a 1-0 in the second inning. Harold Ramirez led off with a single and moved to second when Greene bobbled the ball. One out later, Manuel Margot singled and once again Greene had trouble fielding the ball, which allowed Ramirez to score.
Detroit answered in the bottom of the frame. Miguel Cabrera and Andy Ibanez rapped back-to-back singles. After Civale struck out the next two batters, Rogers singled to knock in Cabrera.
Ibanez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, Baddoo followed with a double and, one out later, Rogers brought them both home with a double to left for a 3-1 lead.
Tampa Bay loaded the bases in the sixth on a single, walk and hit by pitch. Reliever Jose Cisnero escaped the jam by striking out Margot.
Baddoo made it 4-1 in the bottom of the inning when he pulled a Robert Stephenson offering off the right field foul pole for his sixth home run this season.
The Rays scored a run in the seventh. They loaded the bases with one out on a walk, a fielder’s choice grounder and a single. Isaac Paredes’ fielder’s choice grounder scored Jose Siri, but reliever Jason Foley left the other runners stranded when Randy Arozarena flied out.
Alex Lange walked Christian Bethancourt and Josh Lowe to start the ninth. Yandy Diaz grounded into a double play.
When Lange walked Wander Franco, he was replaced by Brieske, who struck out Paredes with a high fastball to end the contest.
–Field Level Media
