Morrison powers Rays past Tigers
DETROIT Logan Morrison homered twice and Steven Souza Jr. hit his first career grand slam as the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 9-1 Sunday to split a fourgame series.
Derek Norris and Evan Longoria also homered for the Rays, who won five of seven in the season series with Detroit.
Jake Faria (3-0) allowed one run, six hits and a walk in seven innings. He struck out a career-high nine. Faria is the second starting pitcher in Rays history to win his first three career games, joining Jeremy Hellickson.
Buck Farmer (2-1) allowed seven runs in 21/3 innings, and has now allowed 13 runs in 42/3 innings over his last two starts. Farmer gave up five hits, including three homers, walked one batter and hit another.
Morrison gave the Rays a 2-0 lead in the first with his 20th homer of the season, a drive off the railing above the right-field fence. There was momentary confusion, as the ball bounced back onto the field, leading Morrison to stop at second while Farmer chased down what he thought was a wild throw from the outfield.
Justin Upton’s RBI single made it 2-1 in the bottom of the first, but Norris restored the two-run lead with a homer in the third.
DH Victor Martinez (irregular heartbeat) is expected to stay away from any activity while the Tigers are on a seven-game road trip. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said if his heart rate remains normal, Martinez could resume light cardio activity in about a week.
Ausmus announced before the game that Anibal Sanchez will return from Triple-A Toledo and start Monday’s game against Sam Gaviglio (3-1, 3.41) in Seattle, with the Tigers moving temporarily to a six-man rotation.
In four starts with the Mud Hens, he went 0-2 with a 4.60 ERA.