By AP
DETROIT – Carlos Pena hit his AL-best 38th homer and drove in four runs to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 11-7 on Monday for a split of their four-game series.
Tampa Bay scored six times in the first inning, capped by Pena's two-run drive. James Shields remained unbeaten against Detroit, and Jason Bartlett added a solo homer as the Rays moved within five games of idle Boston in the wild-card race.
Tampa Bay hosts the Red Sox on Tuesday night, the start of a three-game series.
Tigers starter Jarrod Washburn (9-8) allowed his first six batters to reach base. The last was Pena, who hit a shot down the right-field line. Pat Burrell had a two-run double earlier in the inning.