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Rays beat Tigers to snap three-game skid, get back above .500 (w/video)

 
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 17: Daniel Robertson #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits an RBI single in the fifth inning during a MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) 700011268
DETROIT, MI - JUNE 17: Daniel Robertson #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits an RBI single in the fifth inning during a MLB game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on June 17, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) 700011268
Published June 17, 2017

DETROIT — There were still some mistakes, that's for sure. But the Rays needed a win, and that's what they were understandably happy about Saturday after hanging on to beat the Tigers 3-2.

In doing so, the Rays snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 36-35, as they on Friday had dropped back to .500 for the 19th time this season.

Chris Archer gave the Rays a solid six innings, two players who had some shaky moments in the field recently, second baseman Daniel Robertson and centerfielder Mallex Smith, delivered the key hits and Jumbo Diaz got four relatively easy outs.

But there was still drama, as a one-double in the eighth by Justin Upton — a wicked shot, clocked by StatCast at 106.8 mph, off shortstop Tim Beckham's glove — led manager Kevin Cash to summon Alex Colome to get the final five outs.

Colome, who hadn't pitched since last Sunday, got Alex Presley (strikeout) and pinch-hitter Nicholas Castellanos (ground out) to end the eighth.

The ninth didn't start well, as ex-Ray Mikie Mahtook's bouncer got under third baseman Evan Longoria's glove. And it seemed to get worse when Jose Iglesias bunted and Colome appeared late on his throw to first. But the Rays challenged the call to get the out at first on replay reversal. Then Colome got Ian Kinsler to fly out to left for the second out.

But Mahtook, as the tying run, stole third. Then Colome got Alex Avila to ground out for the final out for his 19th save.

The game was scoreless into the fifth thanks to a pretty good matchup between Archer and Detroit counterpart Michael Fulmer.

The Rays broke through first, as Colby Rasmus doubled with one out in the fifth and scored on a single by Robertson, who knocked in three runs on Friday.

The Tigers immediately countered when Andrew Romine looped a single just beyond the reach of a leaping Beckham, moved to second when Archer stumbled fielding a comebacker and had to get just the out at first, and scored when Kinsler laced a double to left.

They went ahead much more efficiently, when Miguel Cabrera took Archer's first pitch of the sixth over the right-centerfield fence.

But then it was time for the Rays to rally back with two in the seventh.

They tied it when Steven Souza Jr. battled from 0-and-2 to draw a leadoff walk from Fulmer, moved around on a pair of groundouts and scored on Robertson's hard grounder that skirted off second baseman Kinsler's glove for a infield single.

Derek Norris, in a 5-for-53 mess and with more issues behind the plate, moved Robertson up with a single. Then Smith, who misjudged another ball in center, followed with the big hit, bouncing a hard single through the right side.

The Rays wrap up the four-game series with the Tigers at 1:10 p.m. Sunday then head home to open an interleague series with the Reds.

Marc Topkin can be reached at mtopkin@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Rays.