Travis Bazzana hit his second home run of the season, a two-run shot, and the visiting Cleveland Guardians edged the reeling Detroit Tigers, 4-3, on Tuesday night.
Kyle Manzardo scored two runs for the American League Central Division leaders. Steven Kwan scored a run and knocked in another as the Guardians won for the seventh time in their last eight games. The Tigers have lost 12 of their last 14 games.
Colin Holderman (1-0) picked up the win with one inning of scoreless relief. Cade Smith got out of a ninth-inning jam for his 15th save.
Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run homer and Riley Greene scored twice for Detroit. Tyler Holton (0-3) took the loss.
Manzardo led off the second with a single and Bazzana walked. Following a sacrifice to move the runners up, Kwan brought in Manzardo with a sacrifice fly.
Detroit took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning. Greene drew a one-out walk and scored on Torkelson’s homer.
Detroit tied it at 3-all in the bottom of the inning. Greene led off with a single and advanced on Hao-Yu Lee’s two-out single. Greene scored on an errant pickoff throw by catcher Austin Hedges.
The Guardians took a 4-3 lead in the seventh. Kwan ripped a double that banged off right fielder Wenceel Perez’s glove at the top of the wall. He moved up on a sacrifice and scored on Brayan Rocchio’s groundout.
Detroit loaded the bases in the eighth and came up empty. Jahmai Jones walked to lead off the inning. With one out, Greene was hit by a pitch. Pinch-hitter Colt Keith, replacing Torkelson, bounced into a fielder’s choice. A walk to Wenceel Perez loaded the bases but Hunter Gaddis got out of the jam by retiring pinch-hitter Zach McKinstry on a weak grounder.
Matt Vierling and Kevin McGonigle had one-out singles in the ninth. Smith responded by striking out Jahmai Jones and Dillon Dingler to end the contest.
