Tigers 6, Giants 2: Detroit took the series from San Francisco

The Detroit Tigers put up five runs early and a mini-rally by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit. Dixon Machado hit his first career home run and Anibal Sanchez pitched a solid game as Detroit took the rubber match of the three-game series against San Francisco, 6-2, Thursday afternoon at Comerica Park.

The Tigers came out of the gate hot. Justin Upton walked, stole second base, and was driven in on a single by Miguel Cabrera in the first inning. Nicholas Castellanos led off the second inning with a triple, and Alex Presley drove him in. Then came the power from an unlikely source: Dixon Machado crushed a 384-foot home run over the Tigers bullpen.

Sanchez cruised through the first five innings, allowing only two base hits and three baserunners total. The Giants tried to rally in the sixth but they only sent six men to the plate for two runs total. Sanchez earned his first win of the season as he lowered his ERA to 5.92, the lowest it has been since April 9.

Roars

Anibal Sanchez got the job done and had a final line of six innings, two runs, five eights, eight strikeouts, and no walks.

Dixon Machado hit his first home run in career at-bat number 146.

The bullpen retired all nine batters they faced — Shane Greene, Bruce Rondon, and Justin Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 inning each.

Hisses

James McCann went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Stats and stuff

Detroit struck out 13 batters and walked none as a team today. It’s just the seventh time that has happened in franchise history.