bounce into a double play that brought another run home.

DETROIT - It would be an understatement to say Joe Nathans first season with the Detroit Tigers was a rocky one. LeBron James Shoes Deals .Nathan blew seven saves, allowed his most walks in over a decade and tested the patience of fans at Comerica Park throughout 2014.It was a roller coaster, Nathan said. I think my downs were early, my ups were later, which, if I was going to choose a way to have it, that would be the better way to do it.The 40-year-old Nathan remains at the forefront of Detroits bullpen after posting a 4.81 ERA last year. In fact, the Tigers still have several of the same pitchers who were part of the teams beleaguered relief corps in 2014. Instead of throwing significant money at the problem, Detroit is simply hoping for better health and better performances from its relievers when the coming season starts.The Tigers bullpen had been a trouble spot at times in 2013, so they signed Nathan to a $10 million, two-year contract before last season. Although he saved 35 games, his numbers were mediocre. In 58 innings, he walked 29 hitters, his most since 2003, before he became a full-time closer.Nathan occasionally showed signs of finding a groove, but even after the All-Star break, his ERA was 3.70 — not exactly dominant. Manager Brad Ausmus stuck with him, even as fans grew increasingly frustrated. After one game, Nathan flicked his chin at the Comerica Park crowd, a gesture he later apologized profusely for.There were some positive moments amid all of his struggles — an occasional Lets Go Joe! chant from the home crowd, for example. In the division-clinching victory over Minnesota on the final day of the regular season, Nathan earned his 376th career save. The Tigers won their fourth straight AL Central title, although they were swept in the AL Division Series by Baltimore.Now Nathan returns, and its obvious that he could use a good start to this season.I learned a ton about myself as a human being. I think Ill be better for that, Ill be stronger for that, he said. Ill be able to deal with tougher situations.Nathan wasnt the only shaky Detroit reliever in 2014. Joakim Soria, acquired by trade in the middle of the season, missed time with an injury almost immediately after the Tigers acquired him, and he took the loss in Game 2 of that playoff series. Joba Chamberlain struggled in the playoffs too, and he is a free agent now. So is left-hander Phil Coke.Soria struck out 48 with only six walks for Detroit and Texas last year, so the Tigers have reason to believe he can become the steady right-hander they thought they were acquiring.Perhaps the biggest addition to the bullpen is right-hander Bruce Rondon, who missed all of last season with a torn ligament in his right elbow. At age 24, the hard-throwing Rondon could be just what the Tigers need.I think Rondons the biggest factor, Nathan said. They didnt really need to panic and go out and do a whole lot, because youre going to have an arm like that in the pen.Ausmus, who seemed to resist any major shakeups in bullpen roles last season, said he may need to bring Rondon along slowly at first.I do think you have to be a little bit cautious, he said. What is he, 10-and-a-half months from Tommy John surgery?Detroit also would love to see Joel Hanrahan re-emerge as a top late-inning option. The Tigers signed him to a minor league deal, but he had Tommy John surgery in May 2013 and hasnt pitched in the majors since.Detroit acquired right-hander Josh Zeid off waivers, and right-hander Alex Wilson came over in a trade from Boston, but those moves didnt turn too many heads around Motown. What the Tigers are really hoping for this year are different results from the some of the same relievers.A new-look bullpen in terms of performance, at least.They didnt make a whole lot of moves, but the whole pen is going to look pretty different, Nathan said. Its going to have a different look, so they didnt really have to go out on the market and do too much to switch this pen up. LeBron James Shoes From China . The 27-year-old forward has informed the Leafs that he will be unable to play in Monday nights home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. LeBron James Shoes Outlet . Canadas Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse will reunite at this weekends season-opening World Cup at Canada Olympic Park as they begin their buildup to the Winter Games in Sochi. https://www.cheapshoeslebronjames.com/ . Early in the first period, Stuart pinched in from the blue line, hit Nash and was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing. Nash remained in the game for the rest of the first period, but did not return for the second.DETROIT - With the bases loaded and nobody out, Tampa Bays Brad Boxberger came out of the bullpen hoping for a strikeout and a double play. The order didnt much matter. "I was looking for the strikeout initially," Boxberger said. "But it worked out to get the double play and limit the damage." Evan Longoria homered, Ben Zobrist doubled twice and the Rays finally broke through offensively against Detroit, but it was Boxbergers relief work that preserved a 6-3 victory over the Tigers on Friday night. Tampa Bay was up 5-2 when he came on in the sixth inning. Torii Hunter hit into a double play, bringing home another run. Then Boxberger struck out Don Kelly to end the inning. Boxberger struck out two more in a perfect seventh before exiting the game. The 26-year-old right-hander now has 51 strikeouts in 33 1-3 innings this year. The Rays had gone 19 straight games against the Tigers without scoring more than four runs, a streak that went back more than three years. Tampa Bay had seven extra-base hits Friday, including a two-run triple by Sean Rodriguez in the sixth. Alex Cobb (4-6) allowed three runs and five hits in five-plus innings for the Rays, and their bullpen allowed only one baserunner. Boxberger was perfect for two innings, Joel Peralta worked the eighth, and Jake McGee finished for his fourth save. Detroits Drew Smyly (4-8) allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings. There were three hit batsmen, and umpires warned both benches in the sixth. After the warnings, Rays manager Joe Maddon argued and was ejected. Desmond Jennings doubled twice and scored three runs for the Rays. Tampa Bay rebounded after an 8-1 loss Thursday to start this four-game series, and the last-place Rays have now won six of seven. Detroits AL Central lead over Kansas City fell to four games. Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez left in the eighth because of back irritation. "He aggravated his side, so we got him out of there," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "The chances of him playing (Saturday) are almost nil, and well go day-to-day after that." Jennings and Zobrist hit back-to-back doubles in the third to give Tampa Bay a 1-0 lead, and Longoria led off the fourth with his 11th homer of the year. An RBI groundout bby Hunter in the bottom of the fourth made it 2-1. LeBron James Shoes Free Shipping. Zobrist hit an RBI double in the fifth, and Rodriguezs triple the following inning brought two more runs in. Cobb hit Ian Kinsler to lead off the bottom of the sixth — with Miguel Cabrera on deck. Longoria and Martinez had been hit earlier in the game, so plate umpire Quinn Wolcott warned both benches. "I never thought there was any malice on either side," Ausmus said. "I didnt think Cobb meant to hit Victor, I didnt think Smyly meant to hit Longoria, and I didnt think Cobb meant to hit Kinsler. No one tried to hit anyone." Maddon said he felt the Tigers intentionally hit Longoria, but he said the Rays werent throwing at Kinsler immediately afterward. "We hit Victor, yes. Totally accident, he pulls a fastball. Then they intentionally hit Longo," Maddon said. "Were not going to reciprocate right there. Were not, its over. Were good. But then this whole other thing ensues." Maddon took a few steps out of the dugout, and second base umpire Greg Gibson seemed to motion to him to stay back. Maddon continued arguing from a distance, and after being tossed, Maddon approached Gibson and kept arguing before finally leaving. It was Maddons third ejection of the year and 35th of his career. Cobb didnt get another out. Cabrera walked and Martinez hit an RBI single. After J.D. Martinez walked to load the bases, Boxberger came on and got Hunter to bounce into a double play that brought another run home. "The double play was a big bonus, because hes in there to miss bats in that moment," Maddon said. "You want the guy to either put the ball on the ground or be able to punch somebody out. Now if you get a guy who can do both, how good is that guy?" Kelly struck out to end the threat. Jennings doubled and scored in the seventh to make it 6-3. NOTES: Peralta made his 267th appearance for the Rays, the most for the franchise by a pitcher. Esteban Yan had 266. ... Austin Jackson struck out four times for Detroit and Eugenio Suarez fanned three times. ... The Rays put LHP Cesar Ramos on the paternity list and recalled LHP Jeff Beliveau from Triple-A Durham. ... Detroit RHP Anibal Sanchez (5-2) faces Tampa Bay RHP Chris Archer (4-5) on Saturday. ' ' '