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Both sides traded zeroes through the first two innings, but the Tigers broke through in the third inning where Nick Castellanos plated Jeimer Candelario with an RBI double.
The Rays were able to get to Boyd and even up the score in the top half of the fifth inning when Adeiny Hechavarria scampered home on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Matt Duffy.
They wouldn’t keep that advantage for long though. James McCann led off the home half of the fifth inning with a single and advanced to second on a single by Dixon Machado. Leonys Martin then delivered a run-scoring double to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
Boyd handed the ball over to the bullpen after fanning seven over his six innings of one-run ball. He scattered seven hits, all singles, while issuing just one free pass in the ballgame. The 27-year-old southpaw, who came to the Tigers in the David Price trade, has been brilliant through his first five starts on the year. He boasts a 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21/8 K/BB ratio across 29 innings.
While his 5.19 xFIP hints that regression is going to hit him in the face in the coming weeks, he’s worth a look as a matchup play in all mixed leagues until the tides turn.
The Tigers’ bullpen then delivered just as manager Ron Gardenhire had drawn it up in the preseason, with Alex Wilson, Joe Jimenez and Shane Greene each working scoreless innings to protect the one-run lead.
Greene bounced back very nicely after giving up three runs and taking the loss in Monday’s series-opener against the Rays, retiring all three hitters that he faced in order, two of them via the strikeout. He owns a disappointing 5.25 ERA and 1.42 WHIP on the season while converting five of his first seven save chances. Despite Joe Jimenez excelling in a setup role, it doesn’t appear as though Greene is in any danger of losing his ninth-inning gig, yet.
For the Rays, Chris Archer was saddled with his second loss of the season despite his quality start. It was a much-needed strong effort from the right-hander however, as he has had his share of struggles in the early going. He owns a cringe-inducing 6.05 ERA and 1.53 WHIP through 38 ⅔ innings in his first seven starts, though he does have a solid 42/12 K/BB ratio.
With the victory, the Tigers improve to 12-16. With the loss, the Rays fall to 13-15. They’ll wrap up their three-game set on Wednesday afternoon in a battle of aces as Blake Snell takes on Michael Fulmer.
