Flaherty increases trade value, Tigers beat Guardians 10-1 and win series – News-Herald

Austin Hedges pitches in the eighth inning against the Tigers in Detroit on July 11. (Duane Burleson – The Associated Press)

By Larry Lage

The Associated Press

DETROIT – Riley Greene scored three runs on three hits and Jack Flaherty pitched six strong innings to help the Tigers beat the AL Central-leading Guardians 10-1 on Thursday to win their four-game series.

Cleveland’s Bo Naylor hit a home run in the third inning and Carson Kelly countered with his seventh of the season in the bottom half of the inning, restoring Detroit’s three-run lead before the game ended in a crushing loss.

Greene’s two-run double in the fourth inning gave the Tigers a 6-1 lead, and Gio Urshela’s three-run double gave them a 10-1 lead in the sixth inning.

Detroit is 6-1 over its last seven games, its best streak since winning six of its first seven games this season. But it is still four games under .500 and 13 games behind the Guardians in the division.

“Production has increased and pitching has stabilized,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “Our guys like to win, and they like to win series, and we haven’t done that in a long time.”

The Tigers, currently in fourth place, will face Cleveland six more times this month and have a chance to make up some ground in the standings.

“At this point in the season, teams really want to beat us,” said Guardians catcher Austin Hedges, who threw two scoreless innings in his season debut on the mound and fifth career game as a pitcher. “Teams are playing with top power and energy and I think they’re better prepared for us now.”

“To beat us you have to plan your game seriously and it’s up to us to react.”

Flaherty (6-5) allowed two hits, struck out four times and walked two in his return from a back injury. Against a team with five All-Stars, including four in the squad, the 28-year-old right-hander was able to lower his ERA to 3.13.

Flaherty could be an attractive option should Detroit decide to trade before this month’s trade deadline. He signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Tigers in December.

Cleveland recently made a move to strengthen its struggling rotation and the early results have not been encouraging.

Spencer Howard (1-2) allowed four runs and seven hits in three innings. The 27-year-old right-hander, who was signed from San Francisco last week, had a 5.63 ERA in two starts and five relief appearances with the Giants this season.

“There is a lot to do,” he said.

Guardians right-hander Pedro Avila was also hit hard, allowing five runs, four earned, and three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The Tigers scored one run in each of the first four innings and scored four more runs in the sixth inning.

Cleveland outfielder Will Brennan went 0 for 3 with one strikeout in his first game since returning from a rib injury. Infielder Gabriel Arias was sent to Triple-A Columbus to make room on the roster for Brennan before the series finale in Detroit.

Next

Guardians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (3-6, 5.22 ERA) is scheduled to start a series opener on Friday night in Tampa Bay.

Tigers: All-Star LHP Tarik Skubal (10-3, 2.37 ERA) will open a series against the NL West-leading Dodgers on Friday night at Comerica Park.

THE SCORE

Tiger 10, Guardian 1