DETROIT, Michigan -- The Detroit Tigers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to take the rubber match in the three-game series, 9-4. Miguel Cabrera supplied the offense at Comerica Park, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. 

In the bottom of the first inning, J.D. Martinez hit his eighth double of the season to give the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. Cabrera, immediately following J.D. Martinez, hit a single to score the right fielder. 

The Rays (20-21) tied the game on a two-run shot by Logan Morrison, his second of the year, in the top of the second inning. 

Andrew Romine hit a ball down the right field line that turned into an RBI triple. The run scored by Jarrod Saltalamacchia got the lead back into the hands of the Tigers, 3-2. 

Cabrera, in the bottom of the third inning, crushed a solo homer to center field off Chris Archer. The sluggers ninth home run of the year left the bat at 112 miles per hour and traveled 433 feet. Later in the inning, Cameron Maybin singled in Nick Castellanos for a 6-2 edge over the Rays.

Archer (3-5, 5.16 ERA) only made it through 3.0 innings of baseball, allowing six runs on eight hits and a walk. 

Jordan Zimmerman (7-2, 2.52 ERA) allowed two runs on five hits for the Tigers over 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander, who struck out three batters, departed after 82 pitches due to a strained right groin. He tweaked the groin while making a pitch in the sixth inning. 

Things got a bit interesting in the top of the seventh inning as Tim Beckham hit his second of the season over the fence in center field. The home run cut the deficit of the Rays to two runs. 

The Tigers (21-22) put the nail in the coffin with a bases-loaded walk by Maybin in the bottom of the seventh inning and a two-run home run by Victor Martinez, his eighth of the season, in the next inning off Steve Geltz

With a 9-4 lead, the Tigers sent Alex Wilson to the hill for the bottom of the ninth inning. Wilson pitched a perfect inning to secure the win and get the series victory over Tampa Bay. 

Cabrera, who went 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBI, exited the game on Sunday after being hit in the left knee with a pitch. The Tigers are calling him day-to-day, so there should not be anything to worry about with the 2012 Triple Crown winner. 

It is important to note that Maybin 12-for-20 with one home run and three RBI since coming off the disabled list six games ago. He was drafted by the Tigers 10th overall in the 2005 MLB Draft, then jumped around, and returned to the team in an offseason trade. 

The Tigers have won six of their last seven games and are on an offensive power surge. Detroit will play the Philadelphia Phillies next while Tampa Bay will battle with the Miami Marlins

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About the author
Evan Petzold
Evan Petzold is a Detroit-based journalist with expertise in covering the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. A member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) and Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association (DBSA), he brings a unique skill set in reporting and broadcasting to the table.