ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Victor Martinez drew a tiebreaking bases-loaded walk during a three-run 11th inning and the Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 8-6 on Tuesday night.
Ian Kinsler opened the 11th with a triple off Grant Balfour (1-5), a flare to right that got past a diving Kevin Kiermaier. Torii Hunter walked and Miguel Cabrera was intentionally walked before Martinez got his free pass.
Hunter scored on Jeff Beliveau’s wild pitch and Bryan Holaday added a sacrifice fly that gave Detroit an 8-5 lead.
Jim Johnson (5-2) worked out of a two-on, two-out jam in the 10th. Joe Nathan gave up Evan Longoria’s RBI single in the 11th before getting his 26th save.
The Tigers, the AL second wild-card leader, won for the fifth time in 13 games.