LAKELAND (620 WDAE) -- Chris Archer allowed a pair of runs while failing to get out of the second inning, but the Tamp Bay Rays used a two-run fifth and a two-run sixth to come back and defeat the Detroit Tigers 7-4 Saturday at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Detroit jumped out on Archer with two out in the bottom of the first inning, as Victor Martinez drew a walk in front of Nicholas Castellanos, who took a 96 MPH fastball and deposited it on the berm in left-center for a 2-0 advantage.
Archer left after just 1 1/3 innings, but said after the game he was working using just the fastball and changeup.
Adam Moore cut the deficit in half in the top of the second with a solo homer, his first of the spring, and Tampa Bay took the lead in the third with an RBI double by C.J. Cron followed by a run-scoring single by Joey Wendle.
Detroit regained the lead in the fourth when Victor Martinez hit a two-run homer off Jose De Leon, but the Rays rallied in the fifth by loading the bases in front of Willy Adames, who singled in Denard Span with a base hit, and Christian Arroyo's fielder's choice, coupled with an error by Sergio Alcantara alloowed Peter Maris III to give Tampa Bay the lead for good.
Justin Williams and Maris gave the Rays some breathing room an inning later, each providing a run-scoring double to set the score.
Tampa Bay got scoreless innings of relief from Anthony Banda in his debut with the Rays, along with Jose Alvarado, Hunter Wood, Adam Kolarek and Ian Gibault.
The Rays go to Tampa Sunday to take on the New York Yankees. Nathan Eovaldi will get the start, taking on Chad Greene. First pitch from Steinbrenner Field is scheduled for 1:05, with coverage on WDAE starting at 12:30 with Countdown to Opening Day.