Goodrum’s homer lifts Tigers over Phillies

Niko Goodrum hit a two-run home run to lift the visiting Detroit Tigers past the Philadelphia Phillies 3-1 on Tuesday. Nicholas Castellanos had two hits for the Tigers, who snapped their four-game losing streak.

Tigers starter Tyson Ross had been scheduled to start but was placed on the paternity list. Spencer Turnbull (2-2) got the start and was fairly effective, allowing three hits and one run in six innings. He struck out five, tossed three wild pitches, walked two and hit two batters in an odd outing. Shane Greene picked up his 12th save after throwing a scoreless ninth. The Phillies struggled offensively, managed only four hits and left seven runners on base.

Phillies starter Vince Velasquez (1-1) lasted only 3 2/3 innings before being replaced by Edubray Ramos. Velasquez gave up six hits and three runs and threw 99 pitches. Philadelphia entered this game on a three-game winning streak.

The Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Rhys Hoskins hit an infield single and Andrew McCutchen scored on a throwing error by Detroit second baseman Ronny Rodriguez. The Tigers loaded the bases with two outs in the second but Velasquez struck out Turnbull to end the threat.

In the third, the Tigers tied the score at 1 on an RBI single to left by Miguel Cabrera. Goodrum followed with a two-run homer to right for a 3-1 Tigers advantage. The Phillies went without a hit from the third through the eighth and trailed 3-1.

Detroit had a runner at third with one out in the eighth, but Phillies reliever Adam Morgan escaped by getting Grayson Greiner to ground out to Jean Segura at shortstop. Jordy Mercer grounded out to Maikel Franco to end the inning. In the ninth, J.T. Realmuto had an impressive nine-pitch at-bat and singled to centre off Greene. Then, Nick Williams and Cesar Hernandez struck out swinging. Franco was Philadelphia's last chance and he struck out as well.