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DETROIT (AP) – Jose Macias keeps earning the opportunities he gets from Detroit Tigers manager Phil Garner. After taking the third-base job away from Shane Halter, Macias and his .389 average are now laying claim to the leadoff spot in the Tigers' batting order. Macias went 4-for-5 with a homer and three runs scored Friday to help the Tigers defeat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 4-2. "Where would we be without that guy?" Garner asked. "He has really given us a spark. We might make a mistake, but then he makes up for it." Macias wasn't the only little-known Tiger to come through, as Ryan Jackson followed him in the order and had his first two hits since 1998. "The top of the order really made things happen tonight," Garner said. "Macias had four hits, and Jackson had a couple more and they both scored some runs. That's what we needed." The Tigers won consecutive games for just the second time this season despite one error in the field and several on the basepaths. Dave Mlicki (1-2) ended a four-start losing streak, allowing two runs, six hits and three walks in seven-plus innings. "I felt pretty good, but the best part was just finally getting a win," Mlicki said. "The defense made some nice plays, and what a day Jose had. He did it all for us today." Todd Jones pitched the ninth for his fifth save, but his first in 10 days. He allowed a hit and a walk before finishing the Devil Rays off. "I'm a little out of whack -- I just had to get used to being out there again," he said. "It will take a while, but a couple more saves and I'll be fine." Ryan Rupe (1-3) allowed four runs, six hits and five walks in five innings for the loss. "I don't think it was a bad outing at all," he said. "I felt pretty good, and when I did throw some bad pitches, I was able to battle out of it." Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the first when Bobby Higginson's sacrifice fly scored Macias. The Tigers had a chance to extend the inning, but Jackson was doubled off first after Tony Clark's lineout to right. Tampa Bay tied the game in the third when Vinny Castilla doubled and scored on John Flaherty's single, but Detroit added two runs in its half of the inning. Macias led off with a double and scored on Jackson's triple to right-center. After a walk to Higginson, Clark hit an RBI groundout. Tampa Bay cut the margin to 3-2 in the fifth on Russ Johnson's RBI single, but Macias moved the lead back to two with a solo homer in the bottom half. "I figured I would give up one," Rupe said. "After all, when no one could hit one for the Tigers last year, I gave up the first two." The Tigers loaded the bases on three walks later in the inning, and Juan Encarnacion lifted what looked like a sacrifice fly to right, but Clark was doubled off second before Higginson could cross the plate. "Those are the type of plays that give you momentum and win you games," Tampa Bay manager Hal McRae said. "And we got the chances -- we just didn't get the clutch hitting we needed. We've scored two runs in two games. That makes it hard to win anything." Game notesJohnson extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games. ... Tigers 3B Dean Palmer (shoulder) will report to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday to begin a rehab assignment with the Mud Hens. ... Fred McGriff failed to homer in his attempt to go deep in his 38th park. McGriff and Mark McGwire are tied with 37. Greg Vaughn will be looking to make Comerica Park his 35th park with a homer. ... Mlicki is now 4-0 against the Devil Rays. ... The Devil Rays made their 26th and 27th errors of April in the game. Tampa Bay only committed 13 errors last April.  Send this story to a friend
| RECAPS Boston 9 Kansas City 2
Detroit 4
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