ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jack Flaherty pitched five scoreless innings, extending his scoreless streak to 11 2/3 innings, Zach McKinstry and Riley Greene hit home runs and the Detroit Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Flaherty (3-4) allowed just two hits and no walks over five innings, throwing a season-low 60 pitches, 44 of which were strikes. In his last start, the 28-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit over 6 2/3 innings in a 5-0 win over Boston.
Texas broke up a shutout attempt against Tyler Holton with two outs in the ninth on a dunk by Ezekiel Duran that fell between shortstop McKinstry and center field green. Jason Foley came to the mound and got Wyatt Langford to ground out for his 12th save in 14 chances.
The Tigers (31-30) are over .500 for the first time since May 18 and won the first two games of a three-game series, scoring all five of their runs on home runs.
The Rangers (29-32) have won five of their last six games and have been held to just two goals.
McKinstry's first home run of the season gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the second inning, then he tripled in the fourth inning and finished 7-for-13 (including 4 extra bases) against Dane Dunning (4-4).
Green also hit a home run with two outs against Dunning in the fifth inning.
Both home runs hit by left-handed batters were just inside the right field foul pole.
Dunning, making his third start since returning from the disabled list, allowed four hits and one walk in five innings.
McKinstry's two extra-base hits tied his career bests. He entered the game batting .185.
Rangers starting pitchers have held the opposing team to three earned runs or fewer in 17 straight games. Texas is 7-10 in those games.
Texas' Corey Seager was hitless in two at-bats, ending his 16-game hitting streak, but he walked in the sixth inning to extend his on-base streak to a career-high 27 games.
Trainer Room
Rangers: Right-hander Max Scherzer (offseason back and thumb surgery) threw 40 pitches in live batting practice and said he hopes to begin a rehab assignment soon if his recovery date goes well. … Manager Bruce Bochy said outfielder Evan Carter (lumbar sprain) will probably be another month before beginning his rehab. … Right-hander Jon Gray (right groin sprain) is scheduled to throw bullpen pitches on Wednesday. Gray could return this weekend.
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The starting pitchers for Wednesday's series finale struggled last Friday. Tigers right-hander Kenta Maeda (2-2, 6.25 ERA) gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss at Boston. Rangers right-hander Jose Ureña (1-5, 3.74 ERA), who joined the starting rotation on May 7, pitched just 2 1/3 innings in an 8-2 loss at Miami.
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