DETROIT — Right-hander Freddy Peralta allowed just two hits over six scoreless innings with four strikeouts and no walks as the Tampa Bay Rays blanked the Detroit Tigers 3-0 at Comerica Park, delivering his sharpest performance since arriving in a trade from the Mets on Aug. 2.
Peralta entered the game at 5-11 with a 5.33 ERA between Tampa Bay and New York this season and had been 0-2 with a 7.17 ERA in four starts for the Rays. The only hits he surrendered were opposite-field singles by Dillon Dingler in the second inning and Brett Callahan in the sixth — a far cry from the pitcher who posted a 2.70 ERA for the Brewers before being traded to the Mets in January.
Reliever Kevin Kelly followed with two perfect innings in the seventh and eighth before Tyler Wells closed the door with a 1-2-3 ninth on his 32nd birthday. Detroit starter Troy Melton, who entered with a 1.70 ERA, was tagged early when Chandler Simpson beat out an infield single in the second and scored from first on a double to the left-field corner by Jonny DeLuca. Cedric Mullins drove in DeLuca with a two-out single to give Peralta all the run support he needed.
Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan said before the game that Peralta’s work with pitching coach Kyle Snyder was building toward a breakthrough. “Great person. Great competitor. A great teammate and he’s been a workhorse so far, taking the ball,” McClanahan said. “And, you know, he’s only going to get better for us. That relationship with Snydes is going to grow and get deeper, and he’s going to be the best version of himself very soon.”
Peralta won 17 games last season and was 4-0 with an 0.32 ERA in August for Milwaukee before the Brewers dealt him. The Mets sent him to Tampa Bay for three prospects. The Rays continue their road series in Detroit with their next scheduled start.