ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Justin Verlander allowed two runs and four hits in seven innings, and the Detroit Tigers won their fifth consecutive game by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Saturday.
Verlander (8-6) struck out eight and walk one as he improved to 5-2 in eight starts at Tropicana Field. The right-hander was coming off a start Sunday in which he gave up eight runs in 4 2-3 innings of a 9-3 loss to Cleveland.
The Tigers look to complete a four-game sweep Sunday against the reeling Rays, who lost for the 15th time in 17 games.
Tampa Bay rookie Blake Snell (1-3) gave up three runs, four hits, four walks and had four strikeouts over 5 1-3 innings in his fifth start.
Justin Wilson pitched the eighth before Francisco Rodriguez got the final three out to get his 23rd save.
