DETROIT, MI – APRIL 11: Starting pitcher Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers delivers against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at Comerica Park on April 11, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT (AP) — After two starts this season, Matthew Boyd already has both extremes covered.
Boyd allowed one hit in six outstanding innings, and James McCann homered in the fifth to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday. It was quite a turnaround for Boyd, who was pulled from last week’s outing in the third inning but took a no-hitter into the sixth this time.
“It was good,” he said. “It’s nice to come back and put your team in a position to win. That being said, there’s room to grow.”
Boyd (1-1) did not allow a hit until Robbie Grossman lined a clean single to left field with two out in the sixth. The Detroit left-hander struck out six and walked two before turning the game over to the bullpen. Tigers relievers have struggled so far this season, but they were able to close this game out.
Francisco Rodriguez allowed a run in the ninth but recovered for his third save in four chances. Pinch hitter Max Kepler hit a popup with two on to end it.
Hector Santiago (1-1) allowed only three hits in 6 1/3 innings, but one of them was a two-run shot by McCann.
Boyd recovered nicely after giving up five runs in 2 1/3 innings in his first start of the season against the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers picked him over the more experienced Anibal Sanchez for a spot in the rotation, and they’ll hope this start was more indicative of what he’ll provide going forward.
“He shut us down pretty good,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We didn’t adjust, I didn’t think, particularly well, in terms of outs on offspeed. Between his changeup and breaking ball — he mixed in some fastballs, but he got a lot of outs on his offspeed.”
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 11: Catcher James McCann #34 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with left fielder Justin Upton #8 after hitting a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning at Comerica Park on April 11, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
Detroit pulled even with the Twins atop the AL Central and has won four of five.
McCann, who hit 12 home runs last season, has provided some power for the Tigers in the early going with Miguel Cabrera struggling. His one-out drive to left in the fifth gave Detroit a 2-0 lead. It was his third homer of the year.
Jason Castro hit an RBI single with one out in the ninth for Minnesota, but right fielder Mikie Mahtook made a nice play to cut the ball off in the gap and prevent him from going to second.
“That was a huge play,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “That could be the difference in the game. We could still be playing right now.”
Pinch hitter Joe Mauer followed with a bloop single to left, but Rodriguez retired Eddie Rosario on a flyout before Kepler’s popout.
