Tigers Are the Answer to Arrojo’s Problems

Rolando Arrojo says he’s tried to maintain his confidence despite his season-long struggles. It paid off for him Monday night.

Arrojo won for the first time in almost three months and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays turned five double plays en route to their third consecutive win, 9-1, over the Detroit Tigers.

“I always felt confident,” Arrojo (3-8) said through an interpreter. “I was always just thinking, ‘Go out and pitch a good game.’ ”

Arrojo, who won for the first time in eight starts since beating Texas on May 18, gave up only the one run and eight hits in eight innings.

Detroit has lost three in a row and 15 of 19. The Tigers have the worst record in the major leagues at 46-72.

“If we had anybody on base, they had a DP-ball tonight,” Tiger Manager Larry Parrish said. “Either that or we got thrown out from third.”

Detroit got its run on Deivi Cruz’s RBI single in the fifth. Karim Garcia tried to go from first to third on the play but was thrown out by center fielder Dave Martinez.

“It’s being aggressive when you can’t be aggressive,” Parrish said. “That’s not thinking the game very well.”