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Tuesday, Jul. 25 7:05pm ET
Makeshift lineup works just fine for Detroit | |||||
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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT -- At first thought, using Deivi Cruz as Detroit's cleanup hitter Tuesday night seemed absurd. It ended up as another hunch that made Tigers manager Phil Garner feel psychic. Cruz, batting fourth for the first time in his career, hit a two-run triple in the first inning that started the Tigers toward a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The shortstop batted cleanup because Juan Gonzalez and Tony Clark are on the disabled list and Dean Palmer rested an ailing shoulder. Bobby Higginson, 0-for-4 as the fourth hitter in the 4-2 loss Monday night to the Devil Rays, moved back to the third slot. Garner said before the game that Cruz would have three RBI. "He drove in two runs," Garner said. "I had him set up to drive in that third run. I might have to take him out of that spot tomorrow." That would certainly happen if Gonzalez, who hasn't played since July 5 because of left ankle inflammation, comes off the disabled list Wednesday. Gonzalez felt good after taking batting practice Tuesday and could be ready to play. "I know Juan Gonzalez might play tomorrow," Cruz said. "As soon as (Gonzalez and Clark) play, I'm eight or nine (in the order). That's fine." Willie Blair (7-2) survived six innings to win for the sixth time in seven decisions since he moved into the rotation June 6. He gave up three runs and eight hits. Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his American League-leading 28th save in 29 chances. Steve Trachsel (6-10) allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings. "I didn't get ahead in counts and put them into too many good hitting situations and just wasn't able to work my way out of them," Trachsel said. Trachsel has lost his last five starts and is winless since June 27. "I don't think he had anything working for him tonight," Devil Rays manager Larry Rothschild said. "I think he struggled to find something to help him get through it." The Devil Rays, 2-5 on a 12-game road trip, have lost eight of their last 11 and 16 of 23. The victory was just the Tigers' second in five games against Tampa Bay in Comerica Park. Cruz tripled off the left-field wall, giving Detroit a 2-0 lead after Rich Becker doubled and Higginson walked in the first. Tampa Bay got one back in the second when Jose Canseco doubled and scored on Steve Cox's long single off the right-field wall. Hal Morris scored on Luis Polonia's grounder in the home half after he singled and moved to third on a double from Damion Easley. Shane Halter hit a two-out run-scoring single to make it 4-1 in the fourth. Gerald Williams singled in the fifth to drive home Miguel Cairo. Steve Cox's bases-loaded forceout closed the Rays to one in the sixth. Fred McGriff tried to score on John Flaherty's fly to medium center, but was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Juan Encarnacion. "He caught it going away from the plate, not coming into it, turned and made a perfect throw," Rothschild said. "It's early enough in the game that you can regroup from it, but that was the biggest play of the game; no question about it." Catcher Brad Ausmus, who put the tag on McGriff, said he thought Encarnacion had a chance. "It's not a deep fly ball and Fred's not known for speed," Ausmus said. "But it still had to be a perfect throw." Palmer drew a pinch-walk to lead off the seventh before Wendell McGee's hit-and-run single moved him to third and he scored on Higginson's sacrifice fly. Canseco drove in Tampa Bay's fourth run with a run-scoring single in the top of the eighth. The Tigers answered with a Easley homer in the bottom of the inning. Game notesJones' only blown save occurred April 16 in a 7-6 home loss to Tampa Bay. Jones has not allowed a run in his last 21 1/3 innings since May 24. ... Devil Rays left fielder Greg Vaughn was OK after sliding head-first into the wall trying for a running catch of Cruz's triple. ... Trachsel's first career appearance against Detroit leaves Oakland as the only major league team he's never faced. ... The Tigers are 38-15 when scoring four or more runs and have won 20 of their last 24 games. ... Blair's seven victories lead the Tigers. | ALSO SEE Baseball Scoreboard Tampa Bay Clubhouse Detroit Clubhouse RECAPS Minnesota 4 Boston 2
Detroit 6
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