For the first time since April 15, the Tampa Bay Rays lost a series, as John Hicks’ squeeze bunt in the bottom of the twelfth scored JaCoby Jones to break a 2-2 tie, giving the Detroit Tigers a 3-2 win Sunday at Comerica Park.
Jones started the twelfth by tripling into the left-centerfield gap off Matt Andriese (0-1), who was in his second inning of relief. Manager Kevin Cash decided to not intentionally walk the bases loaded and instead pitch to Hicks, who laid down a squeeze bunt down the first base line, and when Andriese collided with first baseman Brad Miller, allowing Jones to come home.
Tampa Bay started the scoring in the first, loading the bases off Tigers starter Michael Fulmer before Wilson Ramos singled in Denard Span to make it 1-0.
Span extended the lead to 2-0 an inning later, as his fielder’s choice groundout scored Carlos Gomez.
Blake Snell allowed a run in the fifth on a groundout by Dixon Machado, and allowed Detroit to pull even in the seventh in a solo home run by James McCann.
Chaz Roe finished the seventh, and combined with Jose Alvarado to put up a zero in the eighth. Sergio Romo worked a scoreless ninth, and Andrew Kittredge put up a zero in the tenth.
FRIDAY’S MATCHUP
Rays vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Tropicana Field, 7:10 p.m. first pitch, with coverage on WDAE beginning at 6:00 with The Inside Pitch presented by Crown Eurocars.
Rays starter - LHP Ryan Yarbrough (1-1, 4.19 ERA)
Blue Jays starter - LHP J.A. Happ (4-1, 3.50 ERA)