Rafael Devers and Willy Adames hit home runs, Adrian Houser threw five innings of effective relief and the San Francisco Giants opened a three-game home series with a 5-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
Jung Hoo Lee chipped in with a two-run single for the Giants, who were making their first home appearance since dealing six veteran players around the trade deadline earlier in the week.
After opener JT Brubaker allowed a run on a Dillon Dingler fielder’s choice in the top of the first, Devers gave the Giants the lead in the bottom of the inning, launching a two-run homer, his 24th of the season.
Houser (3-7) replaced Brubaker to start the second inning and allowed a game-tying run on an RBI single by Zach McKinstry. But that’s the only run the right-hander surrendered in five innings, during which he allowed six hits and one walk. He struck out four.
Lee gave the Giants the lead for good in the second when, with two outs and the bases loaded, he singled to center, scoring Drew Gilbert and Osleivis Basabe.
Adames’ homer, his 19th, capped the game’s scoring in the fifth.
Tigers starter Keider Montero (8-7) took the loss after allowing all five Giants runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out five.
Continuing a Western swing in which they’d taken five of six from the Athletics and Seattle Mariners, the Tigers had many chances to cut into the deficit but failed to fully capitalize on their 11 hits. Detroit stranded 12 on base, mainly because its hitters went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
The Tigers out-hit the hosts 11-5, with all 11 hits being singles.
Keaton Winn, Sam Hentges and Dylan Smith followed Houser with three innings of shutout relief. Smith earned his second save of the season.
Basabe had two hits for the Giants, who had lost five of their last six games.
Kevin McGonigle and Spencer Torkelson collected three hits apiece and McKinstry had two for the Tigers.