DETROIT -- Anibal Sanchez is earning back the confidence of his manager.
Sanchez pitched six strong innings, and Dixon Machado hit his first career home run to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
Sanchez, who pitched so poorly earlier this season that he was sent down to the minors, earned his first victory since Aug. 23, allowing two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The 33-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.09 ERA in four starts since returning from Triple-A Toledo.
"It's been a hard year for him, the way it's gone on the baseball field," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
"The one thing I will say: He always came to the park in a good frame of mind. With that being said, I would think this is extremely gratifying. And he should be, because he's made a 180 turnaround."
Sanchez (1-0) started the season pitching in relief for the Tigers, and when that didn't go well, he went to the minors for about a month before coming back to the big leagues -- and the starting rotation -- in the middle of June.
"It's a good story, and it's happening to a good person -- which makes it a better story," Ausmus said.
Machado was another feel-good story Thursday. His first home run came in the 146th at-bat of his career. The 25-year-old infielder hit a two-run shot in the second that put the Tigers up 4-0.
"I wasn't trying, because when you try, you're going to hit groundballs to third base," Machado said. "I was just trying to bring the run in and that happened."
Chris Stratton (0-2) allowed five runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings in his first career start. He took the mound after the Giants scratched right-hander Johnny Cueto before the game because of an inner ear infection.
"Johnny was prepping for the game, but he got dizzy and we just didn't feel comfortable with putting him out there," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said.
"He had some crud yesterday, but he seemed fine after going through his routine the day before he starts. It just developed overnight into an inner ear infection. We'll see how he is (Friday) and make a decision about using him before the break."
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera in the first and Alex Presley in the second. Later in the second, Machado connected for his home run. Detroit players ignored him when he returned to the dugout until Nicholas Castellanos grabbed his head and started playfully rubbing it in celebration.
Presley's RBI single in the third made it 5-0. Joe Panik hit an RBI triple for the Giants in the sixth and scored on Hunter Pence's groundout.
Castellanos added an RBI single in the eighth for the game's final run. Shane Greene, Bruce Rondon and Justin Wilson each pitched a perfect inning in relief for the Tigers.
Sanchez's eight strikeouts were a season high. He didn't even reach that total in any of his Toledo starts.
"Probably I don't have the 97 again on my arm," Sanchez said. "But I've got the command, and I think I want to use it."
EMERGENCY START
Stratton, who had made nine relief appearances for the Giants since the start of last season, had five walks and one strikeout after he had to pitch on short notice.
"That's not quite how I dreamed things up, but today was still a dream come true," he said. "I've always wanted to have the chance to compete at this level as a starting pitcher, and today I showed myself that I can do it."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (ribs, shoulder) allowed nine runs in four innings in a rehab start for Class A San Jose on Wednesday night. He threw 76 pitches. "He'll pitch again down there, and we'll extend him to around 90 pitches, after that start, we'll see where we're at, we'll evaluate him, and he should be ready to join our rotation," Bochy said.
Tigers: Detroit put LHP Daniel Norris on the 10-day DL with a strained left groin.
UP NEXT
Giants: San Francisco returns home for a three-game series with Miami before next week's All-Star break. LHP Matt Moore (3-8) starts Friday night for the Giants against RHP Dan Straily (6-4).
Tigers: Detroit visits Cleveland for three games, with RHP Jordan Zimmermann (5-6) starting Friday night for the Tigers against RHP Carlos Carrasco (9-3).
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
---
Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister
Sanchez pitched six strong innings, and Dixon Machado hit his first career home run to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 6-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
Sanchez, who pitched so poorly earlier this season that he was sent down to the minors, earned his first victory since Aug. 23, allowing two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
The 33-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.09 ERA in four starts since returning from Triple-A Toledo.
"It's been a hard year for him, the way it's gone on the baseball field," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.
"The one thing I will say: He always came to the park in a good frame of mind. With that being said, I would think this is extremely gratifying. And he should be, because he's made a 180 turnaround."
Sanchez (1-0) started the season pitching in relief for the Tigers, and when that didn't go well, he went to the minors for about a month before coming back to the big leagues -- and the starting rotation -- in the middle of June.
"It's a good story, and it's happening to a good person -- which makes it a better story," Ausmus said.
Machado was another feel-good story Thursday. His first home run came in the 146th at-bat of his career. The 25-year-old infielder hit a two-run shot in the second that put the Tigers up 4-0.
"I wasn't trying, because when you try, you're going to hit groundballs to third base," Machado said. "I was just trying to bring the run in and that happened."
Chris Stratton (0-2) allowed five runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings in his first career start. He took the mound after the Giants scratched right-hander Johnny Cueto before the game because of an inner ear infection.
"Johnny was prepping for the game, but he got dizzy and we just didn't feel comfortable with putting him out there," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said.
"He had some crud yesterday, but he seemed fine after going through his routine the day before he starts. It just developed overnight into an inner ear infection. We'll see how he is (Friday) and make a decision about using him before the break."
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera in the first and Alex Presley in the second. Later in the second, Machado connected for his home run. Detroit players ignored him when he returned to the dugout until Nicholas Castellanos grabbed his head and started playfully rubbing it in celebration.
Presley's RBI single in the third made it 5-0. Joe Panik hit an RBI triple for the Giants in the sixth and scored on Hunter Pence's groundout.
Castellanos added an RBI single in the eighth for the game's final run. Shane Greene, Bruce Rondon and Justin Wilson each pitched a perfect inning in relief for the Tigers.
Sanchez's eight strikeouts were a season high. He didn't even reach that total in any of his Toledo starts.
"Probably I don't have the 97 again on my arm," Sanchez said. "But I've got the command, and I think I want to use it."
EMERGENCY START
Stratton, who had made nine relief appearances for the Giants since the start of last season, had five walks and one strikeout after he had to pitch on short notice.
"That's not quite how I dreamed things up, but today was still a dream come true," he said. "I've always wanted to have the chance to compete at this level as a starting pitcher, and today I showed myself that I can do it."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (ribs, shoulder) allowed nine runs in four innings in a rehab start for Class A San Jose on Wednesday night. He threw 76 pitches. "He'll pitch again down there, and we'll extend him to around 90 pitches, after that start, we'll see where we're at, we'll evaluate him, and he should be ready to join our rotation," Bochy said.
Tigers: Detroit put LHP Daniel Norris on the 10-day DL with a strained left groin.
UP NEXT
Giants: San Francisco returns home for a three-game series with Miami before next week's All-Star break. LHP Matt Moore (3-8) starts Friday night for the Giants against RHP Dan Straily (6-4).
Tigers: Detroit visits Cleveland for three games, with RHP Jordan Zimmermann (5-6) starting Friday night for the Tigers against RHP Carlos Carrasco (9-3).
---
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
---
Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister
1:10PM,EDT,July 6,2017
Comerica Park, Detroit,Michigan
Comerica Park, Detroit,Michigan
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| San Francisco - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Span flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Panik grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Pence struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Chris Stratton pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| Kinsler grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Avila grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Upton walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Upton stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Cabrera singled to center, Upton scored. | 0 | 1 |
| J.D. Martinez grounded into fielder's choice to second, Cabrera out at second. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Posey lined out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Belt flied out to right. | 0 | 1 |
| Hwang lined out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Chris Stratton pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| Castellanos tripled to deep center. | 0 | 1 |
| Presley singled to right center, Castellanos scored. | 0 | 2 |
| McCann struck out swinging, Presley stole second. | 0 | 2 |
| Machado homered to left (384 feet), Presley scored. | 0 | 4 |
| Kinsler flied out to left. | 0 | 4 |
| Avila flied out to left. | 0 | 4 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Crawford struck out swinging. | 0 | 4 |
| Slater struck out looking. | 0 | 4 |
| Hernández singled to center. | 0 | 4 |
| Span hit by pitch, Hernández to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Panik flied out to right. | 0 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Chris Stratton pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| Upton doubled to shallow left. | 0 | 4 |
| Cabrera grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 4 |
| J.D. Martinez popped out to second. | 0 | 4 |
| Castellanos walked. | 0 | 4 |
| Presley singled to right, Upton scored, Castellanos to third, Presley out stretching at second. | 0 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Pence singled to center. | 0 | 5 |
| Posey grounded into fielder's choice to second, Pence out at second. | 0 | 5 |
| Belt struck out looking. | 0 | 5 |
| Hwang struck out looking. | 0 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Chris Stratton pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| McCann grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 5 |
| Machado lined out to right. | 0 | 5 |
| Kinsler flied out to left. | 0 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Crawford struck out swinging. | 0 | 5 |
| Slater grounded out to second. | 0 | 5 |
| Hernández grounded out to first. | 0 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Chris Stratton pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| Avila walked. | 0 | 5 |
| Upton flied out to right. | 0 | 5 |
| Cabrera grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Avila out at second. | 0 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Anibal Sanchez pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Span singled to right center. | 0 | 5 |
| Panik tripled to deep right, Span scored. | 1 | 5 |
| Pence grounded out to second, Panik scored. | 2 | 5 |
| Posey struck out looking. | 2 | 5 |
| Belt doubled to right center. | 2 | 5 |
| Hwang struck out swinging. | 2 | 5 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Chris Stratton pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| J.D. Martinez lined out to left. | 2 | 5 |
| Castellanos lined out to center. | 2 | 5 |
| Presley walked. | 2 | 5 |
| McCann grounded into fielder's choice to third, Presley out at second. | 2 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Shane Greene pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Greene relieved Sánchez. | 2 | 5 |
| Crawford flied out to center. | 2 | 5 |
| Slater struck out looking. | 2 | 5 |
| Hernández struck out swinging. | 2 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Chris Stratton pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| Machado grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 5 |
| Kinsler grounded out to first. | 2 | 5 |
| Avila walked. | 2 | 5 |
| Crick relieved Stratton. | 2 | 5 |
| Upton grounded out to first. | 2 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Bruce Rondon pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Rondón relieved Greene. | 2 | 5 |
| Span struck out swinging. | 2 | 5 |
| Panik lined out to second. | 2 | 5 |
| Pence struck out swinging. | 2 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Detroit - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Kyle Crick pitching for San Francisco | SF | DET |
| Cabrera struck out looking. | 2 | 5 |
| J.D. Martinez singled to right. | 2 | 5 |
| J.D. Martinez to second on wild pitch by Crick. | 2 | 5 |
| Castellanos singled to center, J.D. Martinez scored. | 2 | 6 |
| Castellanos to second on wild pitch by Crick. | 2 | 6 |
| Presley struck out swinging. | 2 | 6 |
| McCann struck out swinging. | 2 | 6 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Justin Wilson pitching for Detroit | SF | DET |
| Romine at third base. | 2 | 6 |
| J. Wilson relieved Rondón. | 2 | 6 |
| Posey popped out to second. | 2 | 6 |
| Belt struck out swinging. | 2 | 6 |
| Hwang grounded out to second. | 2 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco Giants | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Span CF | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | .288 | .340 | .440 |
| Panik 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .277 | .338 | .405 |
| Pence DH | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 19 | .258 | .306 | .373 |
| Posey C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .326 | .408 | .502 |
| Belt 1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 16 | .236 | .345 | .463 |
| Hwang 3B | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 15 | .227 | .292 | .409 |
| Crawford SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 17 | .223 | .263 | .362 |
| Slater LF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .299 | .352 | .443 |
| Hernández RF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | .238 | .322 | .298 |
| Totals | 32 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 123 | |||
| BATTING 2B: Belt (16, Sánchez) 3B: Panik (3, Sánchez) RBI: Panik (27), Pence (35) Giants RISP: 0-3 (Hwang 0-1, Panik 0-1, Pence 0-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Crawford-Panik-Belt). Outfield Assist: Hernández (Presley at 2nd base). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Comerica Park, Detroit, MI |
| Attendance | 27,210 (65.4% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:38 |
| Weather | 83 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Marty Foster, First Base - Mike Muchlinski, Second Base - Mike Winters, Third Base - Chris Guccione |
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