ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Brandon Inge struck out in each of his first three at-bats yesterday. Then, one swing changed everything.

Inge hit a grand slam in the ninth inning and the Detroit Tigers picked apart Tampa Bay's bullpen in a 5-3 victory over the Rays that completed a three-game sweep.

"It's one of those days where I couldn't really figure out why I was missing," Inge said. "I felt like I was taking good swings all day. As long as you can remember that that very last at-bat is going to be one that can make a huge difference in the game, put all of your previous at-bats aside because it's the last one that's very important."

Detroit earned its sixth consecutive win and opened a seven-game lead over Minnesota in the AL Central.

After Rays starter Wade Davis pitched seven sharp innings in his major league debut, Detroit overcame a 3-1 lead when Tampa Bay used five relievers in the ninth. Inge capped the comeback, connecting with one out against Russ Springer (0-3) for his fifth career slam.

Edwin Jackson (12-6) allowed three runs and six hits in eight innings for Detroit. Brandon Lyon pitched the ninth for his third save.

ATHLETICS 5, MARINERS 2:

Ichiro Suzuki's 2,000th major league hit was overshadowed by the go-ahead grand slam Scott Hairston hit in the seventh inning as host Oakland beat Seattle. Suzuki reached the milestone on a double in the first against Gio Gonzalez (5-5). The Mariners All-Star outfielder, who accumulated 1,278 hits in Japan, became the second-fastest player to 2,000 hits, recording it in his 1,402nd major league game. Al Simmons did it in 1,390 games.

BLUE JAYS 14, YANKEES 8:

Rookie Randy Ruiz hit an RBI single during an eight-run fifth, then was hit in the face by a pitch later in the inning as host Toronto beat New York. Ruiz joined the growing list of hitters to get beaned in recent weeks. Down for a few minutes after being hit by Josh Towers, Ruiz walked off the field without assistance and left the game.

ANGELS 7, ROYALS 2:

Joe Saunders won his third straight start, Bobby Abreu drove in three runs and visiting Los Angeles beat Kansas City. Saunders (12-7) gave up 10 hits, but he surrendered only two runs in 5 1/3 innings.

RED SOX 6, WHITE SOX 1:

Jon Lester allowed four hits over seven shutout innings, and Mike Lowell and Victor Martinez homered as visiting Boston beat Chicago. Lester (12-7) walked two and struck out eight, giving him 204 for the season.

INDIANS 3, TWINS 1:

Michael Brantley hit a tiebreaking single with two outs in the seventh inning to lead host Cleveland over Minnesota. Brantley's grounder into right field scored Luis Valbuena from second and gave the Indians a 2-1 lead.

ORIOLES 7, RANGERS 0:

Jeremy Guthrie pitched seven innings of six-hit ball, and host Baltimore beat Texas to earn its second series win since the All-Star break. Guthrie (10-13) walked one and struck out six.