Curt Casali launches 2 HRs to power Rays past Tigers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jul 27, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays catcher Curt Casali (19) is congratulated by designated hitter John Jaso (28) after he hit a solo home run during the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Curt Casali homered twice, Nathan Karns took a one-hit shutout into the seventh inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Monday night.
Casali's first homer came on the first pitch of the third inning by Anibal Sanchez, who lost for the first time in nine starts since June 3. Casali added a towering two-run homer, his fifth of the season, off Bruce Rondon in the eighth.
Detroit lost for the seventh time in 10 games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Consecutive doubles by Steven Souza Jr. and Kevin Kiermaier made it 2-0 in the fourth, and Logan Forsythe had a two-out RBI single off Sanchez (10-8) in the fifth.
Karns (6-5) gave up three hits and no walks in six-plus innings, winning six days after a 1-0 victory at Philadelphia in which he hit a home run.
Yoenis Cespedes led off the seventh with his 16th home run, Detroit's second hit of the game, to pull the Tigers to 3-1. Victor Martinez followed with a single to chase Karns.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cespedes drove in Detroit's second run with a two-out single in the eighth, ending Jake McGee's streak of 21 straight scoreless relief appearances.
Brad Boxberger pitched the ninth for his 25th save.
It was the first time in 14 games the Rays scored more than four runs.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Sanchez gave up three runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander had won seven straight decisions
Kiermaier left the game in the sixth inning with an abrasion of his left eye.
TRAINER'S ROOM
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tigers: Manager Brad Ausmus is optimistic that 1B Miguel Cabrera's recovery from a left calf strain "will be on the short side" of the six-to-eight week estimates ... LHP Kyle Lobstein (shoulder) threw batting practice and is close to starting a rehab assignment.
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (torn left labrum) is scheduled for a second rehab start Friday night and said he believes he is on "the back side" of his recovery.
UP NEXT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}LHP David Price (9-3, 2.31), who won 82 games in six seasons and the 2012 Cy Young Award for the Rays before being traded to Detroit last July, will face his former team for the second time Tuesday night. RHP Jake Odorizzi (5-6, 2.85) will pitch for Tampa Bay.