Tigers’ HRs aid Fulmer’s K’s in win vs. Rays

DETROIT — James McCann beat his old college teammate, Drew Smyly, for a go-ahead two-run home run in the seventh inning, sending his current Tigers teammate, Michael Fulmer, to a victory in Detroit’s 5-4 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday at Comerica Park.

For the Rays, the game wasn’t the only loss, as Kevin Kiermaier left with a fractured left hand after diving for a bloop single in center field.

Smyly, once a bright Tigers pitching prospect, and Fulmer, Detroit’s current top prospect, took a 1-1 duel into the seventh inning, both hurlers pitching past early solo homers. Cameron Maybin provided Detroit’s solo homer in the third, his first of the season, but his leadoff single in the seventh provided the distraction for Smyly, who paid for falling behind McCann.

J.D. Martinez added a two-run homer off Steve Geltz later in the inning, providing insurance runs that became crucial once Brad Miller’s two-run triple fueled a three-run eighth off Justin Wilson.

Fulmer (3-1), who made his first four Major League starts on the road, tossed seven innings of four-hit ball with a walk and 11 strikeouts. Smyly (2-5), facing his old team for the first time since going to Tampa Bay in the David Price trade two years ago, finished with three runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 …

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