Verlander gets 16th victory in Detroit win

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Justin Verlander picked up his 16th win of the season, Adam Everett hit a tiebreaking RBI single during a three-run ninth and the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 on Friday night.

Verlander (16-7) tied New York Yankees left-hander CC Sabathia for the AL lead in victories after allowing one run and four hits over eight innings. He has won three consecutive starts.

Pinch hitter Ryan Raburn opened the ninth by drawing a walk from J.P. Howell (7-5) and went to second one out later when pinch hitter Marcus Thames walked. Everett then gave the Tigers a 2-1 advantage when he lined a single to left on the first pitch.

Curtis Granderson had a run-scoring single off Randy Choate and Placido Polanco hit a sacrifice fly against Russ Springer later in the ninth to make it 4-1.

Detroit closer Fernando Rodney allowed two runs in the bottom half before nailing down his 32nd save. Carlos Pena hit an RBI single with one out and Evan Longoria drove in another run with a double before pinch-hitter Willy Aybar grounded out with runners on second and third.

Longoria put the Rays ahead 1-0 on an RBI double in the second.

Niemann retired 10 in a row before Miguel Cabrera tied it at 1 with a towering solo homer to left.

Tigers catcher Gerald Laird helped keep the speedy Rays in check, throwing out two runners attempting to steal second. Tampa Bay leads the majors with 169 stolen bases this season.

NOTES: Detroit has decided to have Verlander stay on his normal schedule and start Wednesday’s game at Kansas City. With an off day Monday, there was an option to give him an extra day of rest. … Rays CF B.J. Upton (sprained left ankle) could return early next week. … Tigers manager Jim Leyland plans to have RHP Jeremy Bonderman (blood clot) make his first appearance in a low-leverage situation. … Jackson, traded by Tampa Bay to Detroit during the offseason, is scheduled to start Sunday’s game against the Rays.