Riley Greene hit a two-run single and the host Detroit Tigers opened a three-game series against San Francisco with a 3-1 victory over the Giants on Monday afternoon.
Colt Keith had two hits and scored a run for Detroit.
Tigers starter Keider Montero (2-1) held the Giants to one hit in five innings. He was followed by a parade of five relievers with Will Vest picking up his sixth save.
Detroit’s Javier Baez was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing balls and strikes. Baez was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi on a pitch that replays showed was low and outside.
Wilmer Flores drove in the lone San Francisco run. Hayden Birdsong (2-1), making his second start this season, was charged with three runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings while recording six strikeouts.
San Francisco squandered a scoring opportunity in the first. Matt Chapman walked and Jung Hoo Lee singled with one out. They moved into scoring position on a groundout but were left stranded when Montero struck out Willy Adames.
Detroit pushed across a run in the fourth. Keith led off with a single and advanced to second on Spencer Torkelson’s single. With two down, Dillon Dingler slapped a single into left and Keith came around to score.
Following Baez’s ejection, Kerry Carpenter singled and moved up on a wild pitch. Gleyber Torres drew a walk, ending Birdsong’s day. Erik Miller replaced him and walked pinch hitter Andy Ibanez to load the bases.
Greene then smacked an 0-2 pitch into right field, bringing home two runs. The runners advanced on the throw, prompting Miller to intentionally walk Torkelson. Zach McKinstry then bounced into a double play.
The Giants got on the board in the sixth. Chapman and Lee had one-out singles off Tyler Holton. Brenan Hanifee replaced Holton and gave up Flores’ run-scoring single. Hanifee then induced a double-play grounder by Adames.
Flores led off the ninth with a single. But Adames bounced into a fielder’s choice, LaMonte Wade Jr. struck out and Tyler Fitzgerald flied out to end the contest.
–Field Level Media
