Placido Polanco hit a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday.
Third baseman Brandon Inge sealed the victory, leaping to snag B.J. Upton's high hopper down the line with a runner on first and throwing across the diamond for the final out.
Justin Verlander (15-7) gave up three runs, six hits and four walks over eight innings and struck out four, matching a season low. Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 29th save in 30 chances.
The AL Central-leading Tigers improved to 42-21 at home. The Rays, trying to stay in the wild-card race, fell to 28-38 on the road.
Grant Balfour (5-3) spoiled Jeff Niemann's strong start. Niemann was replaced in the eighth with a 3-1 lead after Clete Thomas hit a leadoff double -- his third hit of the day. After Balfour retired the first two batters he faced, Curtis Granderson walked and Polanco hit his eighth home run of the season.
Granderson's RBI single in the third gave the Tigers an early lead, then they played from behind until Polanco put them back ahead.
Evan Longoria hit a two-run homer in the fourth -- his 25th -- and Akinori Iwamura's first home run later in the inning gave the Rays a 3-1 lead.
Niemann retired the Tigers in order in the first two innings and four of the first six.
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