Dan Dickerson's Game Recap 5-25-11
Alex Avila hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning - and the Detroit Tigers won their third straight game, 7-6 over the Tampa Bay Rays. This game went back and forth - the Tigers took a 4-3 lead on a Miguel Cabrera home run in the fifth inning - only to see the Rays re-take the lead with three runs off Justin Verlander in the top of the sixth. The Tigers trailed 6-4 when Avila hit his first home run of the night - off Wade Davis - in the bottom of the 6th. The Tigers were still trailing 6-5, when Avila hit a two-run shot off of Cesar Ramos in the bottom of the 8th to make it 7-6. Joaquin Benoit worked a scoreless ninth for his first save of the year.
Al Alburqueque got his first major league win by stranding three Rays runners in the eighth inning - he inherited a bases loaded jam, and struck out Sean Rodriguez and got Sam Fuld on a groundout to end the threat. Avila's two homer game was the third of his career - and the second of this month. He now has eight home runs, and 27 RBIs. Cabrera's three run home run in the 5th was the Tigers first three run home run of the year. The Tigers have now won seven of their last eight at home. They go for a sweep of the Rays Wednesday afternoon - Brad Penny goes for the Tigers against Andy Sonanstine of the Rays.
Listen below to Miguel Cabrera's 2-run HR
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Listen below to Alex Avila's solo HR
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