Greene scores twice and has a career-high 6 RBIs as Tigers beat Astros 13-5

HOUSTON (AP) — Riley Greene scored in each of the first two innings and set career highs with four hits and six RBIs as the Detroit Tigers took a huge lead and cruised to a 13-5 victory against the Houston Astros on Saturday.

” He learns. He’s growing,” manager AJ Hinch said of Greene. “He makes good throws. He does a lot of damage and obviously he can put on matches like this that are fun to watch and fun to participate in.

The Tigers jumped on starter Spencer Arrighetti (3-6) for five hits and seven runs in just 1 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old got the start after Justin Verlander suffered a neck strain on Saturday morning.

Matt Vierling, Carson Kelly and Colt Keith each hit a solo home run to give Detroit a season-high five homers. Wenceel Pérez added a career-best four hits with two RBIs as the Tigers racked up 19 hits – their highest this season.

Detroit starter Jack Flaherty (4-3) allowed three hits and struck out six in five innings to earn his third straight victory.

Chas McCormick scored for the first time this season on a three-run shot in the seventh for the Astros, who went 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position as they lost for the fourth time in six games.

There was an out in the first half when Vierling hit to left-center field. Greene gave Detroit back-to-back home runs for the first time this season when he sent one into the left seats to make it 2-0.

Arrighetti walked two batters to start the second before hitting Kelly on the arm to load the bases. A single on a grounder to right field by Pérez scored two to make the lead 4-0.

There was one out in the inning when Greene connected again with a shot to right field to make it 7-0 and chase out Arrighetti. It was Greene’s second career multi-homer game after also hitting two on April 23 against Tampa Bay.

Greene, who leads the team with a career-high 14 homers, described his day as simply “good.”

“But it’s only one day and you can’t sprint a marathon,” he said. “So you show up tomorrow and get dirty and work.”

Arrighetti’s seven points allowed tied a season high and it was his shortest start to the year.

“He’s a tough kid and I expect him to come back to work and be better next time,” manager Joe Espada said.

Greene made it 9-0 with an RBI single in his third at-bat and Kelly made it 11-0 with his two-out homer in the sixth. Greene’s fourth hit came on a single in the seventh and he drew a loaded walk in the eighth for his sixth RBI.

Victor Caratini tripled with one out in the third, but Flaherty retired Jose Altuve before striking out Alex Bregman to end the threat.

Yainer Diaz walked to open Houston’s fifth before a Mauricio Dubón double. But Flaherty left Houston empty-handed again when he sat the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to end the inning.

The Astros trailed by 11 before scoring five runs in the seventh, capped by McCormick’s home run.

Astros: Verlander doesn’t believe his injury is serious and hopes he won’t need to go on the injured list. It is listed on a daily basis.

RHP Kenta Maeda (2-2, 5.89 ERA) will start for the Tigers in Sunday’s finale. The Astros had not announced their starter after advancing Arrighetti to start Saturday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb