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Matt Andriese stellar as Rays return home with win over Tigers (w/video)

 
Tim Beckham, who also homers, scores on a double by Kevin Kiermaier in the seventh.
Tim Beckham, who also homers, scores on a double by Kevin Kiermaier in the seventh.
Published April 19, 2017

ST. PETERSBURG — It wasn't too long ago when Matt Andriese would have been a spectator as the Tigers sent the top of their order to bat in the sixth inning.

Some was by his doing, having pitched himself out of a game by the sixth. Some by design, with the Rays unwilling to allow Andriese to face a lineup for the third time.

But there was Andriese on Tuesday, with a one-run lead and facing Ian Kinsler, Nick Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera.

And there was Andriese retiring them in order on a pair of groundouts sandwiched around a strikeout.

It was a fairly deep outing for a starting pitcher on a team that could use as many of those as it can get.

The seventh inning? Well, Andriese had a little trouble there. But the bullpen had his back, and it led to a 5-1 victory in front of 16,265 at Tropicana Field.

"It was a good opportunity to go out there and show the team I can go deep into games," Andriese said.

Tim Beckham gave the Rays a 2-1 lead in the third when he homered against last year's AL rookie of the year Michael Fulmer with Shane Peterson aboard. Beckham opened a two-run seventh with an infield single.

"Beck and Matt Andriese, to me, they were the story of the night," manager Kevin Cash said.

The Rays improved to 7-8 with the victory and took some of the sting off their 1-6 road trip. The American League Central-leading Tigers fell to 8-5.

It all began with Andriese, whose ability to get through the sixth inning reduced some of the workload for the bullpen.

"I felt at the time he was the best matchup to get those guys," Cash said.

Andriese earned that chance by using his offspeed pitches effectively and pitching somewhat efficiently.

"Going through the minor leagues, even in the big leagues I've shown I can go deep into games," Andriese said. "I just have to be more consistent, and I think today showed that."

He was one inning away from his longest start since May 30 when he returned to the mound to begin the seventh. That was a seven-inning outing at Kansas City.

In 16 starts since then, Andriese has completed six innings three times. He has failed to pitch more than 51/3 innings 13 times during that stretch.

Andriese pitched six innings at Yankee Stadium the last time out and again Tuesday. He allowed a run both times. Both were first-inning home runs. Tuesday's came from Cabrera.

Andriese walked Victor Martinez to start the seventh then allowed a single to Justin Upton that ended his night.

Danny Farquhar came on and got Tyler Collins to ground to Beckham, who stepped on second and threw to first to try, unsuccessfully, to complete the double play. Upton reached out with his right hand and caught Beckham's right arm as he threw. The umpires went to replay to see if Upton violated the slide rule. Replay officials in New York ruled he did not.

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With runners on the corners, Farquhar struck out Alex Avila. Tommy Hunter came on and got Jacoby Jones to line out to left on his first pitch to end the threat.