Riley Greene hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Jack Flaherty pitched 5 2/3 scoreless frames as the Detroit Tigers blanked the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Saturday at Globe Life Field.
Greene's 12th homer of the season came just hours before he learned of his third consecutive All-Star selection.
He drove in Kerry Carpenter, who had walked earlier in the inning off Texas starter Cal Quantrill.
"I feel like once you make one [All-Star Game], you want to make all of them," Greene said.
"This is something, as a baseball player, someone who competes, you want to be in all of them.
It's awesome."
Greene has now hit eight home runs since June 1 and three over his last four games, establishing himself as a vital offensive piece for Detroit.
"Just being on time, getting good pitches to hit and finding barrels," Greene said.
Flaherty held Texas to three hits, striking out five and walking none. He credited improved command and a strong defense behind him.
"We're doing those small things a lot better, in terms of commanding the zone," Flaherty said. "There were a lot of walks early on [in the season].
...
Just being able to mix pitches and getting ahead of guys, trying to get some quicker outs and make them put the ball in play, because our defense has played really well."
Center fielder James Outman made a standout play in the first inning, tracking down a 101.1 mph flyout from Josh Smith near the deepest warning track to prevent a potential home run.
"[Outman] played great," manager A. J.
Hinch said.
"And one of the reasons he's been a mainstay in the lineup since he's gotten here is because he brings defense and speed every day, and his pre-pitch is great ...
his angles are really good, and he completes plays. So when you do that, you get to stay in the lineup."
Detroit added an unearned run in the second inning after an outfield error by Texas' Alejandro Osuna allowed Colt Keith to score following a groundout by Ben Malgeri.
Keider Montero relieved Flaherty and pitched three perfect innings to earn his first career regular-season save.
The Rangers offense managed only three hits, with Josh Jung the lone runner to reach second base.
The series concludes Sunday with Casey Mize scheduled to start for the Tigers against Kumar Rocker for Texas.
