MLB: Detroit 7, Tampa Bay 2

DETROIT, April 12 (UPI) -- Brennan Boesch had a pair of two-run singles Thursday helping the Detroit Tigers to a 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays.

Boesch knocked in two runs in a three-run Detroit fifth inning and put the Tigers up 5-2 with a single that drove in two runs in the seventh.

Collin Balester (1-0) pitched two innings of relief and picked up the win. Tampa Bay starter Jeff Niemann (0-1) allowed two hits and two walks in giving up the three Tiger runs in the fifth.

Tampa Bay led 1-0 in the third after Carlos Pena's third home run of the season.

Alex Avila opened the Detroit fifth with a walk and scored an out later on Andy Dirks' triple. After another out, Austin Jackson walked and stole second. Boesch's single to left got both runners home.

Evan Longoria had an RBI single for the Rays in the seven but Boesch' second two-run hit made the score 5-2. Avila had a triple that scored Prince Fielder in the eighth and reached home himself on a wild pitch for the final run.