Penny & Avila guide Tigers to 2-1 win over Tampa Bay

Tigers starting pitcher Brad Penny pitched effectively into the 7th inning while Alex Avila scored the game-winning RBI single to give Detroit a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Penny (9-9) gave up one run and eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. He had gone 1-3 with a 6.99 ERA in his previous five starts.

Although he allowed two doubles & two intentional walks, reliever Phil Coke struck out five over the final two innings for his first save.

Detroit scored twice in the 7th inning, ending the scoreless streak of Tampa Bay's starter David Price at 18 consecutive innings, and took a 2-1 lead on Avila’s RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Jhonny Peralta. Avila, who hit a two-run homer in Monday night’s 5-2 win over the Rays, has 15 RBIs in 19 games this month.

The game started after a 20-minute delay because of a weather-related problem with the lights at Tropicana Field. According to sources, thunderstorms in the area affected a power line running into the domed stadium, which caused the problem.