Greene scores 3 runs, Flaherty increases the trade value and the Tigers beat the Guardians 10-1 and win the series

By LARRY LAGE

DETROIT (AP) — Riley Greene scored three runs on three hits and Jack Flaherty pitched six brilliant innings to help the Detroit Tigers beat the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians 10-1 on Thursday to sweep 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-run 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 is still four games under .500 and 13 games behind the Guardians in the division. The fourth-place Tigers will face Cleveland six more times this month, giving them a chance to make up some ground in the standings.

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.

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 Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Comerica Park.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb