Pena powers Rays to 11-7 win
Carlos Pena and the Tampa Bay Rays headed into September on a high note.
Next up, a key series against the Boston Red Sox.
Pena hit his AL-best 38th homer and drove in four runs to help the Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 11-7 Monday for a split of their four-game series.
Tampa Bay scored six times in the first inning against the AL Central leaders, capped by Pena’s two-run drive. James Shields remained unbeaten against Detroit, and Jason Bartlett added a solo homer as the Rays moved within five games of idle Boston in the wild-card race.
Tampa Bay hosts the Red Sox Tuesday night, the start of a three-game set.
“I don’t know if it gets any bigger,” Evan Longoria said. “Today is a great way to head home. It should be fun.”