Detroit @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2011 ) Detroit 5, Tampa Bay 2

THE STORY: The Detroit Tigers are trying to sneak away in the American League Central. Four straight wins has given them a 5 ½-game lead on both the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox. Brad Penny will go to the mound to try and extend the streak for the visiting Tigers in the second game of the series against David Price and the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday. Justin Verlander’s 19th victory Monday improved Detroit’s record to 32-31 on the road. The Rays had a seven-game home streak snapped and they failed in attempt to win their season-high sixth straight overall.

TV: 7:10 p.m. EST; FS-DET (Detroit), SunSports (Tampa Bay).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Brad Penny (8-9, 4.97) vs. Rays LH David Price (11-10, 3.59).

Penny allowed three runs over six innings in his last start against Minnesota, but did not get a decision. He has struck out 58 and walked 47. Penny is holding left-handed hitters to a .245 average, but right-handers are batting .339 against him. He is 2-4 lifetime against the Rays with a 5.45 ERA over 38 innings. Johnny Damon and Evan Longoria are a combined 0-for-11 against Penny.

Price has been at his best the last two starts, allowing just nine hits and one run combined in 16 innings. He is just 4-6 at home. Price is 3-0 lifetime against Detroit, with a 2.11 ERA over 21 1/3 innings. Victor Martinez is 7-for-14 with three homers and five RBIs vs. Price, but was scratched from Monday’s game with back spasms and is day to day.

ABOUT THE TIGERS (69-58): Jhonny Peralta continues to build on what could end up being his best season in the majors. Peralta is 10-for-21 the last six games, with two homers and five RBIs, to raise his average to .315. Peralta has 18 homers and 67 RBIs. He had career bests of 24 homers and a .292 average in 2005 and a career-high 89 RBIs in 2008 with Cleveland. Alex Avila is also 11-for-22 in the last seven games and newly-acquired Delmon Young had a pair of doubles Monday to raise his average to .322 with the Tigers in seven games.

ABOUT THE RAYS (69-57): Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon would like to see Matt Joyce get going again and he has showed signs of that the last two days, with four hits in six at bats including a homer and a double. Joyce batted first Monday with Desmond Jennings limited to pinch-hitting role. Center fielder B.J. Upton strained his right shoulder after hitting wall in the eighth inning Monday, and is day to day. Jennings is likely to move from left to center Tuesday. Longoria is 6-for-19 the last five games. He is batting just .234, but has 60 RBIs in his last 62 games.

FINAL PITCH: The Rays have five walk-off home runs, setting a team record, after Damon’s blast beat Seattle Sunday. They had four walk-off homers in 2000, 2007 and 2008.