AP News
(2009-08-30 19:51:33)
DETROIT (Reuters) - The Detroit Tigers roared from behind on Placido Polanco's three-run, eighth-inning homer to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 and give Justin Verlander his 15th win of the season on Sunday.
Polanco drilled a two-out pitch off reliever Grant Balfour over the left field fence to rally the American League Central Division leaders from a 3-1 deficit.
Verlander (15-7) worked eight innings to join the Yankees' CC Sabathia as the league's only 15-game winners.
The right-hander survived a pair of fourth-inning home runs by the Rays while striking out four and walking three. He gave up six hits.
Curtis Granderson's third-inning single put the Tigers on the scoreboard first.
Tampa Bay responded with Evan Longoria's solo homer and a two-run blast by Akinori Iwamura in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Sonia Oxley)
