The Rays woes continued against the AL Central on Thursday night, as Tampa dropped their series opener against the Detroit Tigers. James Shields was not his sharpest, scattering 14 hits over 7.2 innings of work. He gave up four earned runs, which proved to be enough for the Tigers for a 5-2 win.
Miguel Cabrera had a big night for Detroit, going four for five on a night where he feasted on Rays pitchers. Cabrera capped the night with a 420-foot bomb to right field that added insurance in the top of the ninth.
The Rays offense, on the other hand, struggled to get much going against Tigers' starter Max Scherzer, who allowed just four hits in six innings. Elliot Johnson singled home Brooks Conrad in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Tigers lead to two. Conrad would rip a double in the seventh that eventually scored Jeff Keppinger after a Quintin Berry error in left.
But that was it for the Tampa offense, who could not match the 15 hits the Tigers piled up throughout the evening. Double-digit winner David Price will try to stop a four-game skid on Friday night, but unfortunately for Rays fans, he'll be opposed by Justin Verlander.
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