DETROIT -- Max Scherzer could have probably pitched one more inning after breezing through the first eight. Johnny Bench Jersey . Detroits powerful offence made that unnecessary. Scherzer allowed two hits and struck out seven, and the Tigers backed their star right-hander with three early homers in an 8-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. With a big lead and Scherzers pitch count in triple digits, manager Brad Ausmus decided to go to the bullpen for the ninth inning, instead of sending his starter back to the mound for three more outs. "I had it in me to be able to do it, and I had an extra day (of rest) coming up this next time," Scherzer said. "But given the context of the game, it wasnt the right decision for me to go back out there. Its an 8-1 game. Ive got my work in." Scherzer retired 23 of the last 24 hitters he faced, and Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter all homered as part of a five-run first inning for the AL Central-leading Tigers, who have won 12 of 14. Tampa Bays five-game winning streak came to an end. Detroit leads second-place Kansas City by five games. Scherzer (10-3) allowed a first-inning sacrifice fly by Evan Longoria, but that was the first of 10 straight hitters retired by the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. After allowing a single in the fourth, Scherzer retired another 13 in a row before he was pulled with a pitch count of 106. There would be no talking the manager into another inning. Ausmus met Scherzer in the dugout and shook his hand. "He was done. I was just confirming to him that he was done," Ausmus said. "It didnt really matter what he said. That was going to be the end for him. There was no reason to send him back out at that point." Erik Bedard (4-6) allowed six runs and eight hits with two walks in two innings. Miguel Cabrera had two doubles, a single, a walk and four runs for Detroit. The Rays are still at the bottom of the AL East, and the improved starting pitching that fueled their recent run was nowhere to be seen Thursday. After a leadoff single by Austin Jackson in the first, Kinsler homered to put the Tigers ahead. Cabreras walk was followed by Martinezs 21st home run. Hunter added a solo shot with one out to make it 5-1. It was Martinezs first game back after he missed three with soreness in his side. Cabrera doubled in the second and scored on J.D. Martinezs single. He also scored on a single by Hunter in the fourth. Scherzer, coming off a 13-strikeout performance against Houston in his previous start, fanned seven with a walk, and the Detroit defence played well behind him. Nick Castellanos made a diving catch in the third when Desmond Jennings hit a line drive to the third basemans left. Then Detroit shortstop Eugenio Suarez jumped high in the air to snag a liner by Ben Zobrist. The first seven spots of Tampa Bays batting order, listed by position, went CF-SS-LF-3B-1B-DH-RF -- or 8-6-7-5-3-0-9. Rays manager Joe Maddon called it a "Tommy Tutone lineup" before the game, in reference to that bands early-80s hit "867-5309/Jenny." Maddon may have scored points with pop music fans of a certain age, but he couldnt have enjoyed watching his hitters scuffle against Scherzer. James Loneys single in the fourth was the only baserunner the Rays managed after the first inning. "We had some good at-bats," Maddon said. "I thought we played well today, but we just got ourselves in a hole, and that let him be more aggressive." Scherzer has only one complete game in his career -- a shutout of the Chicago White Sox less than a month ago. NOTES: The Tigers sent substitute Don Kelly to the on-deck circle in the fourth instead of Castellanos. Ausmus said Castellanos was in the bathroom, and Detroit wanted someone in the on-deck circle if there was a play at the plate -- to signal to the runner whether to slide. ... Scherzer has reached 10 wins every year since the Tigers traded for him before the 2010 season. ... Detroit LHP Drew Smyly (4-7) faces Tampa Bay RHP Alex Cobb (3-6) on Friday night. Anthony DeSclafani Jersey . As if the individual strands of grey hair or the increasing amount of joint pain werent reminders enough, the impending end of Jeters career is a slap-in-the-face indicator of a generations fleeting youth. Drew Storen Jersey . -- Its been 21 years since Joe Gibbs Racing celebrated its only Daytona 500 victory. http://www.redsgearshop.com/Reds-Adam-Duvall-Kids-Jersey/ . Power had a two-lap average of 218.896 mph in qualifying Friday at the high-banked, high-speed 1 1/2-mile track for his 34th career pole.MILWAUKEE -- Kevin Love had both feet soaking in a bucket of cold water and ice packs wrapped around his knees. A knee to the thigh might have stung him the most, but his sixth straight double-double made up for the brief burst of pain. Love had 33 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Pekovic added 19 points and 11 boards, and the Minnesota Timberwolves climbed back to .500 by routing the Milwaukee Bucks 117-95 on Saturday night. "Ill be good to go. Once they called a timeout and worked on it, it was fine," Love said. Good thing for Minnesota (15-15), which won its second straight game behind another stellar outing from Love. "He wakes up getting double-doubles," said teammate Kevin Martin, who had 20 points. Love hit four of Minnesotas 11 3-pointers and the Timberwolves pulled away with a 14-0 run to start the second half. Perimeter defence was once again a huge problem for the Bucks, who have allowed opponents to hit at least 10 3s in seven consecutive games. Khris Middleton scored 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting for the Bucks, who fell to an NBA-worst 6-24. Larry Sanders had nine points and 10 rebounds in 33 minutes, his first start since missing seven weeks following right thumb surgery. "We were just kind of deflated. We didnt get our momentum back," Sanders said. "We got a little in the first half, lost it for a second, and just never got it back. Thats the story of the game." Minnesota had an easy time snapping a three-game losing streak away from home. Martin smiled after his shot from the wing bounced on the rim a couple of times before falling through the net for a 24-point lead with 4:32 left in the third quarter. The Timberwolves led by as many as 31 before the Bucks mounted a late charge. It was nerve-racking enough that coach Rick Adelman put Love back on the floor late to ensure the Bucks didnt complete an improbable comeback. If there was anything for Adelman to worry about from this blowout heading into a three-game stretch at home, it was the pllay of his bench late. Matt Harvey Jersey. "When they go in, no matter what the score is, they have to play like the game is on the line," he said. If only Milwaukee could have contained Minnesota from the perimeter. The Timberwolves, the leagues third-highest scoring team (106.1 points per game) shot 45 per cent from 3-point territory after hitting at a 33 per cent clip for the season. A nine-point halftime lead climbed to double digits following a 14-0 run to start the third quarter. Corey Brewer (12 points) got the fun started by freezing rookie Giannis Antetokounmpo on the perimeter and hitting an 18-footer. Martin hit a 3 from the wing to make it 73-55 with 9:33 left after getting a pass from Brewer. Martin was so open that Brewer raised both arms in the air in celebration as he backpedaled on defence before the ball floated through the net. Halfcourt defence and ball movement sparked the Timberwolves, while Bucks coach Larry Drew said his team got broken down off the dribble and beaten on back cuts. "We got caught a couple of times staring at the ball and they just back-cut us," Drew said. "Nothing we werent ready for, we just didnt get the job done." O.J. Mayos 3 with 7:26 left finally ended the slide, but the offensively challenged Bucks were still saddled with a 20-point deficit. Milwaukee came in 28th in the league in scoring at 92.6 points per game. Mayo finished with 19 points. The Bucks had 20 turnovers, leading to 25 points for Minnesota. NOTES: Bucks C John Henson had to celebrate his birthday on the bench with a left leg injury. Henson, who turned 23, said he thought he might have a high ankle sprain, though he is supposed to undergo more tests to determine exactly whats ailing him. It is unclear how long he might be out. ... F Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, drafted by the Bucks in 2008, returned to Milwaukee for the first time since being traded in the off-season to Sacramento. The Kings traded him to Minnesota last month for F Derrick Williams. Cheap Baseball Braves Jerseys Cheap Baseball Marlins Jerseys Cheap Baseball Mets Jerseys Cheap Baseball Phillies Jerseys Cheap Baseball Nationals Jerseys Cheap Baseball Cubs Jerseys Cheap Baseball Reds Jerseys Cheap Baseball Brewers Jerseys Cheap Baseball Pirates Jerseys Cheap Baseball Cardinals Jerseys Cheap Baseball Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Baseball Rockies Jerseys Cheap Baseball Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Baseball Padres Jerseys Cheap Baseball Giants Jerseys ' ' '