DETROIT (AP) — Eric Haase had three hits, including one of three Detroit homers, and the Tigers broke a six-game losing streak with a 14-7 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.
The Tigers had scored just two runs in their last four games but posted a season-high for runs on Saturday.
“I don’t know if we knew this was coming, but we knew we had to go out there and do it,” said Tigers manager AJ Hinch. “Today everyone in the lineup stepped up and I’m grateful because they needed it. Everyone on this team needed a game like this.”
Javy Baez and Robbie Grossman also hit a homer and top contender Riley Greene scored twice on his major league debut.
“I’m feeling great — it’s been a busy few days but I just wanted to play baseball,” said Greene, who went 2 for 3 with two walks. “Once I got the first punch out of the way, all my nerves were gone. Now we go.”
Rony Garcia (1-2) took the win, allowing four runs with four hits in six innings.
Texas starter Taylor Hearn (4-5) allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.
“There were just a lot of balls in the middle,” said Rangers manager Chris Woodward. “A major league starter has to go out there and be able to execute pitches. This lineup obviously didn’t score a ton, and if you run against them, you can get them out.
“We didn’t do that today.”
Adolis Garcia gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead with a homer in the first inning before the Tigers went on three runs late in the inning.
Grossman hit his first homer of the season with an out. Miguel Cabrera busted before Haase doubled and scored on Baez’s fourth homer. Greene followed with a single in his first major league in batting.
“We gave up the fast run but we came right back with Robbie hitting his first and then Javy hit one,” Hinch said. “This has been a tough week and after Garcia hit a mile in the first inning it was great to have that kind of inning.”
The Tigers added a fourth run in the second through a doubles game that earned a run, then made it 6-1 in the fourth through RBI singles games from Willi Castro and Cabrera.
Jesus Tinoco replaced Hearn and immediately handed Haase a three-run homer.
Kody Clemens made it 10-1 in the fifth and grabbed his first career RBI with a sacrifice fly, which was also Greene’s first run. Castro added an RBI triple later in the inning.
Meanwhile, Rony Garcia retired for 13 straight batters after Adolis Garcia’s homer before Rangers recovered in the sixth.
Leody Tavares doubled and was third when Baez couldn’t handle a line drive from Zach Reks. Marcus Semien scored with a double play to make it 11:2. Corey Seager followed with a homer and Adolis Garcia tripled and scored on Baez’s second penalty of the inning.
That drew Texas within 11-4, but Detroit scored three times against Jose Leclerc late in the inning. Leclerc has been pitching for the first time since July 26, 2020 after undergoing surgery from Tommy John.
“It was a good day to see Jose out there in our uniform,” Woodward said. “The results aren’t what he wanted but he’s playing in the majors again. This is the biggest step.”
Rangers scored three runs against Jason Foley in the ninth.
NEGRO LEAGUES TRIBUTE
The Tigers played Stars Throwbacks as part of their annual Negro Leagues Weekend in Detroit. The Rangers wore their regular blue tops and gray pants rather than a themed uniform.
NEXT
The teams finish a four-game streak on Sunday, with Detroit’s Drew Hutchison (0-4, 4.58) taking on Rangers’ Dane Dunning (1-4, 4.04).
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