Tigers 7, Rays 2: Brennan Boesch drove in four runs and Andy Dirks had a big game as host Detroit took the rubber game from Tampa Bay.

Drew Smyly pitched four solid innings in his first career start and five relievers combined to allow three hits in five innings for the Tigers. Collin Balester (1-0) got credit for the win with two strong innings.

Boesch was the lone regular in the Detroit lineup hitting under .300 entering Thursday but began to make up for it in the fifth. Dirks got it started with an RBI triple and Boesch followed two batters later with a two-run single off Jeff Niemann (0-1) that snapped a 1-1 deadlock.

After Evan Longoria drove in a run to bring the Rays back within a run in the top of the seventh, Boesch responded in the bottom of the frame, sending a single into center off Jake McGee that plated two more.

Niemann was making his first start of the season after being pushed back from a scheduled Wednesday appearance. The tall right-hander struck out six but was charged with three runs and four hits in five innings.