Phillips homers in 10th as Rays rally to beat Tigers 7-4

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Brett Phillips hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays came back from a three-run deficit in the ninth to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4 on Friday night.

The Rays maintained their 8 1/2-game lead in the AL East over Boston. The New York Yankees are nine back.

“That game, the way it was going was going to be very frustrating,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said. “For whatever reason, the guys have had a knack of getting hot late in ballgames and they did again today."

Tampa Bay leads the majors with 298 runs in the seventh inning or later.

Taylor Walls drew a leadoff walk in the 10th from Bryan Garcia (2-2) before Phillips sent a 3-1 pitch into the right-field seats.

Phillips walked toward first base with his bat before flipping it into the air. He airplaned around the bases and jumped onto the backstop after crossing the plate to celebrate with fans.

“I think the best part of it was the ninth when our boys tied it up and allowed me to do that and celebrate that in the 10th,” Phillips said. “That’s just one of those moments, you don’t know what you’re doing. You’re just celebrating. You’re excited, you’re happy.”

Gregory Soto, the fifth Detroit reliever, got his pitching hand on Manuel Margot’s head-high line drive leading off the ninth that went for an infield single. He stayed in the game with the Tigers ahead 4-1 and walked Francisco Mejía before Brandon Lowe singled to load the bases.

“We'll check him out and make sure he’s OK,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of Soto, who will have X-rays and other tests. “It’s a shame we couldn’t finish it off tonight.”

Michael Fulmer replaced Soto and gave up a two-run single to pinch-hitter Yandy Díaz. Lowe advanced...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Phillips-homers-in-10th-as-Rays-rally-to-beat-16468908.php