The Detroit Tigers (68-76) defeated the Tampa Bay Rays (89-54) 8-7 on Sunday afternoon in eleven innings to win the three game series 2-1. The Rays lead in the AL East stands at nine games, ahead of the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox who are in a virtual tie for second place.
Trailing 2-1 in the eighth inning, the Rays got a two-run homer from newly activated Brett Phillips, and a two run double from Yandy Diaz, to take a 5-2 lead. The Tigers got RBIs from Miguel Cabrera and Harold Castro in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game 5-5, and eventually force extra innings.
In the top of the tenth Yandy Diaz doubled and Kevin Kiermaier drove in a run on a groundout to give the Rays a 7-5 lead, but Jeimer Candelario hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the tenth to tie the game up again 7-7. After the Rays were unable to get anything in the top of the eleventh, J.P. Feyereisen (4-4, 3.02) was unable to close out the bottom of the frame. Working into trouble, he eventually gave up a bases loaded walk to Robbie Grossman that gave the Tigers the victory.
The Rays now head to Toronto and will begin a three game series with the Blue Jays on Monday. First pitch Monday is scheduled for 7:07 PM - pregame coverage begins with Jay Recher and the Inside Pitch at 6:00 PM on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES