TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Junior Caminero, Danny Jansen and Christopher Morel each hit a solo homer, helping Ryan Pepiot and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 8-3 on Saturday.
Taylor Walls had two RBIs for Tampa Bay, and Yandy Díaz extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Pepiot (5-6) struck out seven while pitching five innings of one-run ball.
With its second straight win over AL Central-leading Detroit, Tampa Bay moved a season-best nine games over .500 at 43-34. The Rays are a major league-best 22-8 since May 20.
Jahmai Jones had an RBI double for Detroit, and Jake Rogers also drove in a run. Brant Hurter (2-3) recorded two outs as the opener and was charged with four unearned runs.
Caminero and Jansen connected in the fourth, giving Tampa Bay a 7-1 lead. Morel went deep in the seventh.
Paul Gervase, a 6-foot-10 prospect, made his major league debut in relief of Pepiot. He pitched two scoreless innings.
Hurter actually retired the first three batters, fanning Lowe and Caminero. But Lowe reached on a third-strike passed ball by Rogers. The Rays proceeded to bat around and score four times, chasing Hurter on Walls’ two-run single.
The Rays have scored a total of eight first-inning runs over the first two games in the series.
Right-hander Casey Mize (7-2, 2.96 ERA) pitches for Detroit on Sunday, and right-hander Zack Littell (6-7, 3.88 ERA) goes for Tampa Bay.
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