ARLINGTON, Texas — Jack Flaherty pitched five shutout innings before leaving the game with back tightness, Zach McKinstry and Riley Greene homered and the Detroit Tigers beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Tuesday night.
Flaherty (3-4) allowed two hits and no walks through five innings, throwing a season-low 60 pitches, including 44 strikes. In his previous start, the 28-year-old right-hander beat Boston 5-0 by throwing one-hit ball for 6 2/3 innings.
Flaherty said he felt some tightness before the game, and it worsened.
''Just kind of locked up as the game went along,'' said Flaherty, wearing a wrap around his lower back. He expressed confidence that he won't miss his next scheduled start.
Texas broke up the shutout against Tyler Holton with two out in the ninth on Ezequiel Duran's single that landed between shortstop McKinstry and center fielder Greene. Jason Foley came in to retire Wyatt Langford on a groundout for his 12th save in 14 opportunities.
The Tigers (31-30) have won three straight, are over .500 for the first time since May 18 and have won the first two in the three-game series with all five runs coming on homers.
''I do like that our guys have come in and played in a really tough environment,'' manager A.J. Hinch said. ''The crowd was electric. Defending world champs, and we took it right to them.''
The Rangers (29-32) had won five of six before the series started, but they've been held to two runs in as many games.
