Thanks to home runs from Jeimer Candelario and Dustin Garneau, Detroit Tigers registered a 4-3 victory over the American League East-leading Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

However, the loss hasn’t tainted the Rays lead in the league as they have a seven-and-a-half game advantage over second-placed Boston, an eight-and-a-half game over Toronto and New York Yankees trail by 10.

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Mike Zunino led off the Rays’ ninth inning with a walk from Michael Fulmer and advanced to second when Joey Wendle was hit by a pitch, putting the Tigers up 1-0. By striking out Brett Phillips and getting Yandy Daz to ground into a game-ending double play, Fulmer earned his 10th save in 15 opportunities.

The Rays, who were behind 4-0 in the second, got a home run from Jordan Luplow. On Friday night, Tampa Bay came back from a three-run ninth-inning hole to defeat the Tigers 7-4 in 10 innings.

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“I think we have a very good team and I think we are going to continue on forward,” Tampa Bay right fielder Manuel Margot said through an interpreter, according to Associated Press.

Ahead of the game, Rays centre fielder Kevin Kiermaier was placed on the COVID-19 related injured list with general illness symptoms, while shortstop Taylor Walls too was scratched from the lineup due to general illness.

“Both players have tested negative to my knowledge,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.

Candelario’s 16th home run off Ryan Yarbrough put the Tigers up 3-0 in the first inning (8-6). In his last four games against Tampa Bay, he has gone deep four times.

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With a home run to lead off the second, Garneau made it 4-0.

Luplow reduced the lead to 4-2 in the second with a two-drive off Tarik Skubal.

In 3 1/3 innings, Tigers reliever José Urea (4-8) surrendered one run on Choi’s double-play grounder in the fourth inning and two singles.

In six innings, Yarbrough gave up four runs on five hits. He struck out the last 13 hitters he faced. In his previous two appearances, the lefty had allowed 14 runs on 18 hits over 4 1/3 innings.

Detroit was held hitless over the final seven innings.

With inputs from the Associated Press