(My Sportsbook) - The Detroit Tigers try to maintain their slim lead in the American League wild card race this evening, when they play the third of four games with the lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays at Comerica Park.

Detroit maintained its half-game edge over the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners in the wild card race on Tuesday, as Ryan Raburn slid just in front of a throw home for the go-ahead run in the eighth inning of the Tigers' 9-6 win.

After Jonny Gomes' grand slam evened the game for the Rays in the top of the eighth, Raburn doubled to start the home half of the frame and Craig Monroe was plunked by a Dan Wheeler (0-1) pitch before Brandon Inge moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt.

Curtis Granderson then chopped a ball to first, but Carlos Pena's throw home was slightly up the line and Raburn slid to the right side of the plate for a 7-6 lead. Placido Polanco's single scored Monroe and Sean Casey's double down the line in right allowed Polanco to score Detroit's third run of the inning.

The big frame made a winner of Tim Byrdak (1-0), who recorded just one out in the eighth. Jason Grilli's troubles earlier in the inning ruined an impressive outing by southpaw Nate Robertson, who pitched 7 2/3 solid frames and was in line for his first lifetime victory against Tampa Bay.

Robertson struck out nine and allowed three runs, getting plenty of support from Granderson. The center fielder became just the second player in franchise history to record at least 30 doubles, 15 triples, 15 home runs and 10 stolen bases in a single season with his first-inning double, joining Charlie Gehringer's 1930 campaign.

He also made a diving catch on B.J. Upton's sinking liner in the ninth to help Todd Jones collect his 30th save. Granderson scored twice, Raburn drove in two and scored two runs and Magglio Ordonez hit a solo home run in the fifth for Detroit, which has won two straight on the heels of a five- game skid. The Tigers, though, are still a half-game back of the Cleveland Indians in the AL Central.

Carl Crawford collected four straight hits to finish off a 4-for-5 night and Harris had two hits for the Devil Rays, who have dropped three in a row.

Heading to the hill tonight for the Tigers will be right-hander Chad Durbin, who will be getting the start in place of an injured Andrew Miller. Durbin was 6-3 as a starter earlier in the year filling in for an injured Kenny Rogers.

On the year Durbin, who is 1-1 lifetime in four starts against Tampa, is 7-3 with a 4.36 earned run average.

Tampa Bay will counter with right-hander James Shields, who is 8-7 with a 4.45 ERA. Shields lost for the seventh time in his last nine decisions on Friday against Baltimore, as he surrendered three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Shields beat the Tigers earlier in the year in his only other start against them, giving up three runs and seven hits in a complete game effort.

The Tigers could have slugger Gary Sheffield back in the lineup tonight. Sheffield has missed the last five games with a shoulder injury.

Detroit has won three of its five games with the Devil Rays this season and is 13-7 in this series since the start of the 2005 campaign. The Devil Rays have also won just twice in their last nine visits to Detroit.