Chris Archer carried a perfect game into the seventh innning Wednesday afternoon, but he lost it on an infield single, and the Rays eventually fell to the Detroit Tigers, 2-1.
Archer (9-5) got the first out in the top of the seventh before Jose Iglesias hit a ball between short and second that shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera fielded. Cabrera's off-balance, one-hop throw didn't get to first in time.
Archer, 0-4 over six starts since beating Toronto on June 23, allowed two unearned runs, three hits and struck out 11 in seven innings.
Justin Verlander (1-3) retired his first 14 batters before Cabrera homered on an 0-1 pitch with two outs in the fifth. He gave up one run, four hits and had 10 strikeouts.
Detroit scored both of its runs in the seventh. After Cabrera was charged with an error for misplaying Yoenis Cespedes' grounder, the Tigers took a 2-1 lead on RBI singles by J.D. Martinez and Nick Castellanos, whose liner deflected off Cabrera's glove.
Verlander struck out Cabrera with two on to end the seventh. He was making his eighth start after beginning the season on the disabled list with a strained right triceps.
Joakim Soria pitched the ninth for his 23rd save.
Cabrera made a nice defensive play in the fourth, diving to his left to catch Ian Kinsler's hard grounder and then threw out the Tigers leadoff hitter. Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier made a leaping catch with his back facing the infield in deep center field in the sixth to rob James McCann of an extra-base hit.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rays: LHP Drew Smyly (torn left labrum) will make his second rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Friday night. OF Desmond Jennings, who has missed 85 games due to a left knee injury, will join Smyly and play in his first minor league game.
UP NEXT
Rays: RHP Erasmo Ramirez (8-4) will start the first of three games at Boston on Friday night.