Garrett Hill won his major-league debut by pitching six strong innings, Miguel Cabrera delivered a two-run single and the host Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-1 in the first game of a doubleheader on Monday.
Hill, 26, was called up from Triple-A Toledo and became the 14th pitcher to start for Detroit this season. He limited the Guardians to one run, two hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Gregory Soto pitched the ninth and collected his 16th save despite walking two batters.
Jonathan Schoop supplied four hits and scored twice for the Tigers as the teams began a four-game series.
Guardians starter Zach Plesac (2-6) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings.
Cleveland’s Josh Naylor, who hit a solo homer, departed in the seventh inning for a pinch-runner due to a back injury.
The Tigers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Riley Greene led off with a walk and advanced to third on a Willi Castro single. After Javier Baez struck out, Castro moved up on a wild pitch. Cabrera hit a single to bring in both runners.
The Guardians nearly scored in the third. Gabriel Arias walked and Myles Straw hit into a one-out fielder’s choice. He then stole second and was called safe at home on Steven Kwan’s single. Detroit challenged the call and it was overturned.
Cleveland officially got on the board with two out in the fourth when Naylor hit a home run to right field, his 11th.
Detroit had two baserunners on with two out in the bottom of the fourth but Tucker Barnhart flied out to leave them stranded.
The Tigers extended their lead in the seventh. Schoop singled off Sam Hentges and Barnhart walked. After Hentges set down the next two batters, he was removed for James Karinchak. Baez spoiled that strategy with a single to bring in Schoop. Cabrera then walked to load the bases but Jeimer Candelario struck out to keep the score at 3-1.
Detroit got more insurance in the eighth. Schoop singled with two out and scored on Barnhart’s double off Alex Young.
–Field Level Media
