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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 notes
Jones' 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.
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