Guillen's cycle helps Verlander become first to 14 wins

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Carlos Guillen had a special night at the plate and Justin Verlander added to his impressive rookie season on the mound. They combined to help the Detroit Tigers match last season's win total.

Guillen hit for the cycle and Verlander won his seventh consecutive decision to become the major leagues' first 14-game winner, leading the Tigers over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 10-4 on Tuesday night.

Elias Says

Justin Verlander was the winning pitcher for the Tigers, pushing his record to 10 games over .500 (14-4), joining Francisco Liriano (12-2) in that club. Since 1900, there has been only one other season in which two rookie pitchers were both 10 games over .500 on-or-before August 1. It also happened in 1911 when Grover Alexander and Vean Gregg did it. Verlander is the only the third rookie pitcher in the last 50 years to win 14 or more games in a season for the Tigers, joining Mark Fidrych in 1976 (19 wins) and Dave Rozema in 1977 (15). • For more Elias Says, Click here.

Guillen is the 10th Detroit player, and third since 1951, to complete the cycle. He had an RBI triple in the second, a solo homer in the third, a single in the sixth and a double in the eighth.

"That was awesome," Tigers first baseman Sean Casey said. "I felt like a fan. If he didn't go for second [in the eighth], I was going to go out and tackle him."

Guillen hit his double to right center and slide safely into second, beating a throw from Damon Hollins.

"Inside I felt pretty good," Guillen said. "I was looking for the double. As soon as I hit the ball, I tried to run hard. If I don't run my hard my first at-bat, I don't get the triple. If I don't run hard my last at-bat, I don't get the double."

The last two Tigers to accomplish the feat were Damion Easley in 2001 and Travis Fryman in 1993. It was Detroit's first road cycle since George Kell did it on June 2, 1950, at Philadelphia.

Verlander (14-4) gave up three runs, eight hits, two walks and four strikeouts over five innings. He had gone six or more innings, and allowed one run or less in his each of his five previous starts.

"It was one of those days where the stuff wasn't there and I had to battle out there to keep our guys in it," Verlander said. "Our offense put up a pretty bold number today. That was great."

Over his past nine starts, Verlander is 7-0 with a 2.04 ERA. His last loss was 4-3 to the Chicago White Sox on June 7.

The AL Central-leading Tigers (71-35) matched their win total from last season.

Brent Clevlen hit his first two major league homers and Casey, acquired from Pittsburgh on Monday, added another and had RBI single in his debut with the Tigers.

Devil Rays center field Rocco Baldelli left in the sixth inning with a bruised right biceps after being hit by a pitch from Jason Grilli. Baldelli was making his 43rd start since being activated from the disabled list June 7 after missing all last season with a variety of injuries.

"I'm going to see how it feels," Baldelli said. "I plan on being ready to play tomorrow."

The pitch hit a nerve on the inside of the biceps.

Tigers who hit for cycle
Carlos Guillen	Aug. 1, 2006	at Tampa Bay
Damion Easley	June 8, 2001	vs. Anaheim
Travis Fryman	July 28, 1993	vs. New York
Hoot Evers	Sept. 7, 1950	vs. Cleveland, 10 innings
George Kell	June 2, 1950	at Philadelphia (second game)
Vic Wertz	Sept. 14, 1947	at Washington (first game)
Charlie Gehringer	May 27, 1939	vs. St. Louis
Gee Walker	April 20, 1937	vs. Cleveland
Bob Fothergill	Sept. 26, 1926	vs. Boston
Bobby Veach	Sept. 17, 1920	vs. Boston, 12 innings

"My arm just went numb," Baldelli said. "It was a little scary, not being able to feel it. After five minutes it started to come back. Besides being a little sore, it feels fine now."

Craig Monroe had a two-run single during a five-run second inning that put the Tigers ahead 5-2. Guillen made it 6-2 with his 13th homer one inning later.

Casey and Clevlen, playing in his third game in the majors, hit solo homers in the fifth to extend the lead to 8-3.

Travis Lee had a run-scoring single in a two-run first for Tampa Bay.

Starting pitcher J.P. Howell, third baseman B.J. Upton and shortstop Ben Zobrist all made their 2006 debuts with the Devil Rays after being recently called up from Triple-A Durham.

A majority of the 13,808 in attendance booed Upton before he singled in his first at-bat in the second. Upton, and minor league outfielders Delmon Young and Elijah Dukes were quoted in a published report last week in which they complained about the conditions at Durham and wondered why they hadn't been called up to the major league club.

"We talked about it," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We put everything out on the table. There's no hidden agendas around here. The guys are good with it."

Howell (0-1) lasted 3 2/3 innings, allowing six runs and nine hits.

The Devil Rays are 5-13 since the All-Star break.

Game notes
Upton was 2-for-4. He hit .258 with four homers and 12 RBI in 45 games with Tampa Bay in 2004. "It was new at first," Upton said. "After a couple innings, it felt comfortable." ... Zobrist went 0-for-4 in his major league debut. Howell went 3-5 with a 6.19 ERA over 15 starts with Kansas City last season. ... Dukes was suspended indefinitely by the Devil Rays pending a review of an incident that led to a five-game suspension last week by the International League.