Riley Greene had three hits, including a two-run home run, and the host Detroit Tigers held off the Minnesota Twins 5-4 on Monday afternoon.
Greene’s homer was his third over the last three games and his sixth extra-base hit during that span. Kevin McGonigle also homered for the Tigers, while Colt Keith added an RBI.
Tigers starter Troy Melton (8-4) gave up four runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings while picking up the win. Detroit’s maligned bullpen held the Twins (68-76) scoreless the rest of the way. Jacob Waguespack, Drew Sommers and Kenley Jansen each tossed an inning of scoreless relief, with Jansen collecting his 18th save.
The Tigers (66-78) had lost three of their last four games in walk-off fashion at Cleveland over the weekend.
Twins starter Joe Ryan (6-9) gave up three runs (two earned) and three hits in four innings while recording seven strikeouts. Ryan was activated prior to the game from the injured list and made his first start since Aug. 4 after recovering from a strained left glute muscle.
Connor Prielipp finished out the contest, allowing Greene’s homer among five hits while notching five strikeouts.
Walker Jenkins had a two-run double for Minnesota, while Trevor Larnach smashed a solo homer and scored twice. Luke Keaschall reached base three times and scored a run.
After Ryan Jeffers knocked in the Twins’ first run on a first-inning fielder’s choice, McGonigle homered in the bottom half off a Ryan fastball.
Detroit made it 3-1 in the second inning. Zach McKinstry led off with a triple and Max Clark drew a one-out walk. Ryan then hit John Peck and Colt Keith on consecutive pitches, forcing in a run. An error by first baseman Royce Lewis on McGonigle’s grounder allowed Clark to score.
Larnach homered in the fourth, but Greene answered in the fifth with a 417-foot shot over the right field wall after Gleyber Torres reached on a single.
Jenkins’ double in the sixth cut the Tigers’ lead to one, but the Twins failed to push across a tying run.
