Riley Greene blasted a two-run homer to support a strong outing by Jack Flaherty as the visiting Detroit Tigers blanked the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Saturday.
Flaherty scattered three hits and didn’t issue a walk while striking out five in 5 2/3 innings. Flaherty (2-8) has pitched 10 2/3 scoreless innings since coming off the injured list.
Keider Montero didn’t give up a hit and walked one over three innings while notching his first career save. Montero has pitched 12 scoreless innings in his last three outings.
Ben Malgeri drove in the other run as the Tigers improved to 4-1 during their six-game road trip. The teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday.
Texas starter Cal Quantrill (3-1) gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out two. Benjamin Peoples tossed two scoreless innings in his major league debut for the Rangers, who had won seven of their last eight.
The Rangers were shut out for the first time since June 6. The teams were coming off a rare Friday off due to a nearby FIFA World Cup match.
Detroit scored a pair of two-out runs in the first. Kerry Carpenter singled to center before Greene pulled a 2-2 cutter from Quantrill down the right field line that stayed inside the foul pole. Greene’s homer was his 12th this season.
The Tigers made it 3-0 in the second. Colt Keith led off with a single. Left fielder Alejandro Osuna made an error on a fly ball hit by Zach McKinstry, putting both runners in scoring position. Malgeri’s grounder knocked in Keith. Detroit loaded the bases but Carpenter flied out to center, stranding the runners.
Flaherty was removed after Josh Jung banged a two-out double to center in the sixth. Tyler Holton came on and retired Brandon Nimmo on a grounder.
Detroit threatened in the ninth. McKinstry smacked a one-out single and moved up on a groundout and a wild pitch. Chris Martin then induced James Outman to pop out.
