Detroit – The dreaded sixth inning, again.
Kevin Kiermaier ripped a three-run triple off lefty reliever Kyle Ryan in sixth inning Friday night breaking a 3-3 tie, sending the Rays to a 7-5 win and snapping the Tigers four-game winning streak.
Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez remains on unfriendly terms with the sixth inning. He spotted the Rays three runs in the first but settled in and had retired 10 straight hitters entering the sixth.
Sanchez, at 81 pitches, wasn’t stressed physically and had allowed one hit since the first.
But a wall seems to go up for him after five innings.