HOUSTON — A.J. Hinch returned to Minute Maid Park to a video tribute and a standing ovation that brought him out of the visiting dugout. The Tigers manager then watched his new team send one of his old aces, Zack Greinke, back to the home dugout with one of his roughest outings in years.
Hinch’s first game against the Astros was always going to be an unusual night, but the Tigers’ 6-2 win Monday night was beyond what even the most ardent Detroit fan might have dreamed. A Tigers lineup that produced just six runs in three games at Cleveland matched that total in 4 2/3 innings against Greinke.
Rule 5 Draft pick Akil Baddoo hit a 450-foot home run and came within feet of a two-homer game. And former top overall pick Casey Mize outpitched a Cy Young Award winner for his first Major League victory in his ninth big league start, delivering seven scoreless innings.