ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Detroit Tigers kicked off their series against the Tampa Bay Rays with an impressive 6-3 victory on Monday night, fueled by a breakout performance from rookie second baseman Colt Keith.
Keith led the charge at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs — his most impactful game since joining the big leagues. The 22-year-old ignited the Tigers’ offense early with a two-run blast in the second inning, then added an RBI double in the sixth to give Detroit a comfortable cushion.
“That’s the kind of night you dream about,” Keith said postgame. “I just wanted to come in and help the team any way I could.”
On the mound, Tarik Skubal delivered another solid outing, allowing just two runs over six innings while striking out seven. The lefty improved to 10-3 on the season and continued to build his case as the Tigers’ ace.
The Rays attempted a late rally, scoring in the eighth, but Jason Foley closed the door in the ninth for his 17th save of the year.
With the win, the Tigers (45-44) inch closer in the AL Central race, while the Rays (46-44) drop a game in the tight AL Wild Card hunt. The two teams will meet again Tuesday night for the second game of the series.
Be the first to comment