Goodrum five hits, double HRs help Tigers to claim win over Braves

Leadoff hitter Niko Goodrum had five hits, including a pair of solo homers, and the Detroit Tigers won their third straight by overpowering the host Atlanta Braves 8-2 on Friday. Goodrum's first career five-hit night included four runs scored and three RBIs. Nicholas Castellanos and Grayson Greiner also homered for Detroit, while Brandon Dixon added two hits and an RBI. Detroit had lost 12 of 13 prior to the winning streak.

Tigers starter Spencer Turnbull (3-4), who was activated off the bereavement list, gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits in six-plus innings to earn the victory. Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz (1-4) gave up five runs, including three homers, on seven hits in five innings while striking out eight. Ronald Acuna Jr. had two hits and a run scored for the Braves.

Atlanta had a threat going in the bottom of the first with runners in scoring position. Turnbull escaped the jam by inducing Nick Markakis to ground out. Detroit took the lead on Greiner's two-out homer over the left-centre field fence in the second. He jumped on a fastball for his fourth homer this season.

Goodrum gave the Tigers a 2-0 edge with a one-out homer to right in the third. The Braves got that run back in the bottom of the frame. Acuna singled, stole second and advanced to third on catcher Greiner's throwing error. A Dansby Swanson groundout brought him home.

Detroit extended its lead with a three-run fifth. JaCoby Jones led off with a triple and scored one out later on a Goodrum single. Castellanos made it 5-1 with his two-out blast to left, his sixth long ball this season. The Tigers scored twice more in the seventh. Goodrum doubled and scored on Christin Stewart's single. Stewart eventually came around on Dixon's single.

The Braves scored a run in the bottom of the inning on Brian McCann's sacrifice fly but a double play prevented them from getting closer. Goodrum capped his huge night with an eighth-inning homer.

(With inputs from agencies.)