Rays scoot past Tigers behind solo shots, relief corps

From - Baseball

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Rays are counting on Carlos Pena’s bat to help them stay in the pennant race.

The struggling slugger homered for the fourth time in eight games Friday night, helping the AL East leaders beat the Detroit Tigers 5-2 and retain a three-game lead in the division over Boston.

“I really believe in our guys,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “I believe they’re going to come through in the clutch and keep getting better.”

Pena is one of the players — along with Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton — the Rays expect to contribute more offensively after failing to add another bat before Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline.