DETROIT — Michael Fulmer struck out 11 over seven sparkling innings and Cameron Maybin, James McCann and J.D. Martinez all homered to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 5-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.
Making only his fifth major league start, Fulmer (3-1) allowed a run on four hits and a walk.
Drew Smyly (2-5) allowed a tiebreaking two-run homer by McCann in the seventh, and Martinez hit a two-run shot of his own off reliever Steven Geltz later that inning.
Up 5-1, Detroit’s Justin Wilson gave up three runs in the eighth, but Francisco Rodriguez pitched a hitless ninth for his 12th save in 13 chances.
Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier left the game in the fifth with a broken left hand. The Rays had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Maybin had three hits, including a solo homer in the third. He’s now 11 for 17 this season since coming off the disabled list Monday.
The Tigers acquired Fulmer last year from the Mets when they traded Yoenis Cespedes to New York. The 23-year-old right-hander hadn’t pitched more than five innings in a game yet, but he made it through seven without much trouble Saturday, throwing 106 pitches. His final strikeout came on a 97 mph fastball, when he caught Steven Souza Jr. looking for the second out of the seventh.
The game was tied at 1 when Fulmer came off the mound after the top of the seventh, but the Tigers scored four runs in the bottom of the inning to make him the pitcher of record.
Aside from Fulmer’s sharp outing, the other promising sign for the Tigers was Maybin, who kept up his torrid pace since coming back from a fractured wrist. About the only thing Maybin hadn’t accomplished yet this season was an extra-base hit, and he finally did that when his homer put Detroit up 1-0 in the third. The outfielder is batting .647 through five games this season.
Evan Longoria tied it with a solo shot in the sixth.
Brad Miller hit a two-run triple in the eighth for Tampa Bay, then scored on a wild pitch.
Kiermaier left after trying to make a diving catch in centre field. He broke his glove hand and will be evaluated again on Monday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rays: RP Brad Boxberger (adductor surgery) was slated to make a rehab appearance Saturday night for Triple-A Durham, at home against Rochester.
Tigers: RHP Shane Greene (right middle finger blister) began a rehab assignment with Class A West Michigan on Friday night. He threw three scoreless innings, allowing two hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
UP NEXT
Rays: Tampa Bay sends RHP Chris Archer (3-4) to the mound for Sunday’s series finale. He’s won three straight decisions after starting the season 0-4.
Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (6-2) starts for the first time since allowing seven earned runs Monday against Minnesota.
