Tigers 5, Rays 2: Victor Martinez belted a two-run homer and knocked in three while Max Scherzer remained unbeaten with seven strong innings as Detroit held off visiting Tampa Bay.

Scherzer (8-0) allowed one run on four hits and struck out nine to reach 100 on the season before Jose Valverde earned his seventh save with a perfect ninth. Miguel Cabrera collected three singles and an RBI while Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta added two hits each as the Tigers took two of three in the series.

James Loney recorded two hits and knocked in both runs for the Rays, who finished their road trip 5-3. Tampa Bay starter Roberto Hernandez (3-6) went 5 1/3 innings, yielding four runs – none in the first three frames -- and 10 hits.

Detroit center fielder Don Kelly made a diving catch in the top of the fourth against Loney and the Tigers took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Fielder singled with one out and trotted home when Martinez lined a 0-1 pitch from Hernandez into the right field seats for a 2-0 edge.

Kelly singled to lead off the fifth and later scored from second on Cabrera’s two-out RBI single for a 3-0 advantage. After Loney’s RBI single pulled the Rays within two, Peralta doubled and scored on pinch hitter Avisail Garcia’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-1 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Scherzer became the first Tigers pitcher to start 8-0 since Jeremy Bonderman in 2007. … Rays LHP David Price, last year’s American League Cy Young Award winner, is expected to throw a bullpen session Friday. It would be the first since straining his left triceps May 15. … The Tigers have won 14 of their last 18 against Tampa Bay, holding the Rays to four or fewer runs in 15 straight.