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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
DETROIT (AP) -- Juan Gonzalez hit the first home run in Comerica
Park history and Tony Clark also homered for the Detroit Tigers in
a 10-5 victory Friday night over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
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| Gonzalez |
Gonzalez's three-run homer in the third was the first in four
games at the Tigers' new home. Of the 13 other major league
ballparks that opened since 1989, none took more than three games
for its first long ball.
The Tigers have won two straight for the first time this season
and three of their first four at Comerica Park.
Gonzalez, who has played in only four games because of a
hamstring pull, also hit two doubles. In the last two games, he was
5-for-7 with a homer, three doubles and four RBI.
C.J. Nitkowski (1-2) allowed four runs and eight hits in seven
innings. Gerald Williams hit a three-run homer for Tampa Bay.
The Devil Rays lost for the sixth time in their last seven
games, and once again starting pitching was their biggest problem.
Ryan Rupe (0-2), who gave up six earned runs in just 3 1/3
innings against Cleveland in his last start, was hit hard again. He
allowed eight runs and eight hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3
innings.
Juan Encarnacion's double and a walk to Luis Polonia set up Brad
Ausmus' RBI single in the third. One out later, Gonzalez hit a low
line drive into the left-field seats for his first homer and a 4-0
lead.
The Devil Rays got one back in the fourth when three straight
singles set up a sacrifice fly from Vinny Castilla.
But Palmer's leadoff double in the bottom half preceded Clark's
second homer, a high drive to right-center.
Bobby Higginson's sacrifice fly and a run-scoring wild pitch
made it 8-1 in the fifth.
Palmer added a two-run single in the seventh.
Game notes
The Tigers went 114 at-bats between homers before Gonzalez
connected. ... The Devil Rays haven't won two straight since a
three-game winning streak last Sept. 25-27 at Yankee Stadium. ...
Williams' homer ended a string of 55 innings without a home run
allowed by Tigers pitchers. ... This was the Devil Rays' first
outdoor game this season. All their previous games were at
Minnesota or Tropicana Field.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Tampa Bay Clubhouse
Detroit Clubhouse
RECAPS
Texas 7
Cleveland 2
Oakland 13
Boston 6
Chi. White Sox 9
Anaheim 4
Detroit 10
Tampa Bay 5
NY Yankees 7
Kansas City 5
Seattle 11
Toronto 9
Minnesota 10
Baltimore 9
Florida 9
Chicago Cubs 4
Los Angeles 8
Cincinnati 1
Atlanta 6
Milwaukee 3
Montreal 4
Philadelphia 0
NY Mets 8
Pittsburgh 5
Colorado 6
St. Louis 2
Houston 10
San Diego 4
Arizona 3
San Francisco 1
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