Ian Kinsler’s speed, HR give Tigers 5-1 win, 4-game sweep of Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Ian Kinsler scored from second to tie the game after Victor Martinez beat out a double play at first base in the eighth. The Tigers went ahead 3-1 on a two-run double by Justin Upton and Kinsler put the game out of reach with a two-run milestone home run in the ninth inning.

The Tigers went on to beat the Rays, 5-1, on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers extended their winning streak to six games and completed a four-game sweep at Tropicana Field for the first time in club history.

When asked about the big play he made to beat out the double play, Martinez said: “The big play Ian made, I mean, he went all the way from second. I was just trying to keep the inning alive.

• BOX SCORE

“I was able to beat it out and Kinsler never stopped. Ran all the way from second and that was huge. That was the game right there.”

Kinsler said he does the same thing every times he’s on second and there’s a threat of a double play throw across the infield.

“That’s just something I was taught,” Kinsler said. “With two outs, you have an opportunity to score a run right there. And, obviously, the play doesn’t happen if Victor’s not busting his tail down the line and beat that throw.

“You’re always looking for opportunities to score and right there it worked out perfectly.”

Kinsler hit the stadium’s C-ring catwalk for his 200th career home run. He became the 40th player in Major League Baseball history to have at least 200 home runs, 200 stolen bases, 1,000 runs scored and 1,600 hits in a career.

“I really didn’t think about it until I crossed the plate, honestly,” Kinsler said of the milestone homer. “It just happened we were able to add some runs on.

“I never hit the catwalk before. I honestly did not know it hit the catwalk until I got in the dugout and Kevin Rand showed me the ball. I thought he was just messing around that it was the ball. … I had no idea that it was on the field.

“That kind of surprised me a little bit. So it’s nice to get that one. Crazy thing about this game is we’ve got another game tomorrow.”

The Tigers continue their road trip at Cleveland. The Indians, which lead the American League Central Division, are 9-0 against the Tigers this season.

“We just gotta play,” Kinsler said. “You can’t let that stuff creep into your mind. Play the game hard, play the game right and try to win a ballgame.”

Mike Pelfrey pitched arguably his best game of the season for the Tigers and the bullpen came up big as well.

Pelfrey allowed one run on six hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

He gave up a ground-rule double with one out and then walked back-to-back hitters to load the bases in the seventh inning with the Tigers trailing, 1-0. Bruce Rondon got Logan Forsythe to strike out swinging at a slider and Brad Miller flied out to left.

Shane Greene struck out two batters in an inning of relief and Kyle Ryan allowed one walk and struck out two in finish the game.

Chris Archer allowed three hits in 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the Rays. He walked three and struck out 10.

• Tigers’ Mike Pelfrey, Justin Upton finally catch a break

Contact George Sipple: gsipple@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @georgesipple. Download our Tigers Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!

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