Willi Castro, bullpen power Tigers past Orioles

Willi Castro had a home run and two RBIs to lead the host Detroit Tigers to a 3-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.

The Tigers have won consecutive games for the first time since April 21-23.

Detroit also clinched only its second series win of the season.

Detroit’s bullpen tossed 7 2/3 innings of scoreless relief after starter Michael Pineda had to leave the game with a right hand contusion. Pineda was hit by a line drive off the bat of Baltimore’s Ramon Urias.

The Tigers seized a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Castro. Jonathan Schoop scored after reaching third base on a leadoff double and subsequent fielding error by Ryan McKenna.

Detroit claimed a 2-0 lead with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo home run to left field by Eric Haase.

In the seventh inning, the Tigers upped their advantage to 3-0 on a solo shot to left by Castro. The blast was his first of the season.

Wily Peralta (1-0) relieved Pineda in the second and didn’t allow a hit in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

Jason Foley tossed two scoreless innings of relief before Joe Jimenez and Andrew Chafin pitched one frame each.

In the ninth, Detroit closer Gregory Soto allowed a leadoff single to Trey Mancini, but induced a double play from Anthony Santander and struck out Urias to end the game and earn his fifth save of the season.

Bruce Zimmerman (2-2) took the loss on the mound for the Orioles. He allowed three runs (two earned) and seven hits, walking one and striking out two in six-plus innings of work.

Baltimore only collected four hits in the game.

–Field Level Media

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