After a promising start to a nine-game road trip, the Detroit Tigers fortunes changed in the Sunshine State.

In Thursday's series finale with the Tampa Bay Rays, second baseman Ian Kinsler's lead-off homer was the only spark for the Tigers. The squad would only manage four more hits the rest of the day, two in ninth inning, falling to the Rays 8-1. It's the first time the Tigers have been swept in a series in Tampa Bay since July of 2010.

The Tigers couldn't find any offense off of Rays pitching, as Nicholas Castellanos had two hits on the afternoon. Dixon Machado and James McCann provided singles in the loss.

Pitcher Daniel Norris (1-1) allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings to take the loss for the Tigers. Warwick Saupold would allow three more runs in relief, all from solo homers.

It was also a game where Justin Upton (wrist), Jose Iglesias (jaw) and Victor Martinez (rest) all sat out for the Tigers.

The final stop on the Tigers road trip takes them to Minneapolis as they take on the Minnesota Twins. The opener of the three-game series Friday will see Justin Verlander (1-1, 5.71 ERA) take to the mound for the Motown Cats, while the Twins send out Hector Santiago (1-1, 1.47 ERA). Catch the action at 7:45pm Friday night on 95.3 WBCK!

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