Cleveland, OH

– In a pivotal matchup, Javier Báez propelled the Detroit Tigers to a 3-0 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, hitting a three-run homer in the second inning. This marked Báez's first home run since April 14, ending a career-long drought of 183 plate appearances without a long ball. The 409-foot blast, which came during his second game batting ninth, was a significant moment for Báez, who acknowledged the need to improve his performance to better support his team. The Guardians, who have been dominant at home with a record of 33-15, faced their eighth loss in 12 games, reducing their lead in the AL Central to 4.5 games over the Minnesota Twins. The Tigers' pitching staff excelled, combining for a four-hitter, with Easton Lucas earning his first major league win after two perfect innings of relief. Shelby Miller secured his second save, while the bullpen, including Tyler Holton, Alex Faedo, Jason Foley, and Andrew Chafin, effectively managed the game. Báez's home run was instrumental in scoring Bligh Madris and Jake Rogers, showcasing the Tigers' offensive potential. Meanwhile, Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan struggled at the plate, going 0 for 4 and dropping his batting average to .341, which removed him from the major league batting lead. Looking ahead, the Tigers will face the Twins in a three-game series, starting with RHP Keider Montero on the mound against Minnesota's Pablo López. Additionally, Guardians prospect Travis Bazzana, the top overall pick in the MLB amateur draft, is set to make his professional debut for Single-A Lake County on Friday.