ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., May 10 (UPI) -- Rookie Seth McClung, making his third start of the season, rebounded Saturday night from a poor outing 10 days ago by leading the Tampa Bay Devil Rays to a 3-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
McClung (3-1) gave up six runs in 1 1/3 innings at Minnesota. This time around, he had nine strikeouts in seven innings, allowing only one run, five hits and two walks.
"Those days off were scary," McClung said. "I prayed about it. But I came to terms with it and I got this opportunity to show that I can pitch with this team, in this league."
The 22-year-old McClung, who appeared in just 20 games above Class A before this season, has allowed just 23 hits in 29 innings.
The only run McClung gave up came on a solo homer by Eric Munson in the seventh inning. It was Munson's third of the season.
Al Levine pitched the eighth inning for Tampa Bay and Lance Carter came on in the ninth to earn his seventh save.
The Devil Rays never trailed after Aubrey Huff crushed a low fastball from Jeremy Bonderman (2-5) into the right field stands in the opening inning. Huff has nine homers this season, six more than any teammate. In his career, Huff has hit .310 (9-for-29) against the Tigers, with all four of his career homers against Detroit coming this season.
Bonderman, a much more heralded rookie than McClung, was not quite as effective, allowing three runs and eight hits in 6 2/3 innings with one walk and two strikeouts. He has allowed five homers in seven starts.
Tampa Bay scored its second run in the fourth inning when Marlon Anderson and Javier Valentin had back-to-back doubles. The Devil Rays knocked Bonderman out in the seventh when Jason Tyner and Carl Crawford strung together two-base hits.
Detroit right fielder Bobby Higginson struck out looking at a pitch on the outside corner leading off the sixth inning and quickly was ejected by plate umpre Phil Cuzzi when he disputed the call.
Detroit has scored one run in the last two games after scoring 35 in its previous five contests.
The Devil Rays have won six straight home games against the
Tigers in a streak dating to May 20, 2001.
