CLEVELAND — Detroit Tigers left-hander Joey Wentz, still considered a rookie despite pitching last season, painted the inside corner with a 96 mph fastball to win an 11-pitch battle for his third straight strikeout in the fifth inning.
The 25-year-old returned for the sixth and walked back-to-back batters, but he retired a pair of power hitters to complete his seventh start. Wentz allowed two runs across 5u2154 innings, and the Tigers won, 6-2, against the Cleveland Guardians in Monday's three-game series opener at Progressive Field.
Eight starting position players produced 13 hits for the Tigers (16-18), winners in 14 of their past 23 games.