Ben Rice hit a two-run homer, Max Fried struck out 11 and the New York Yankees salvaged the finale of a three-game series by holding off the host Detroit Tigers, 4-3, on Wednesday afternoon.
Fried (2-0) allowed five hits and didn’t issue a walk in seven dominant innings. Mark Leiter Jr. recorded his first save of the season after Detroit staged a three-run rally in the ninth.
Aaron Judge added a two-run single.
Zach McKinstry had two hits and two RBIs for the Tigers. Detroit starter Jack Flaherty struck out nine in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed three hits and three walks. Tyler Holton (1-1) took the loss.
In the sixth with the game still scoreless, Judge drew a leadoff walk and Paul Goldschmidt doubled to left to put runners in scoring position. Holton replaced Flaherty and tagged Judge after snaring a one-hop comebacker from Jazz Chisholm. Holton then struck out Anthony Volpe to snuff out the threat.
After Holton got the first two batters in the seventh, the Yankees broke through. Oswaldo Cabrera lined a single to left before Rice ripped a sinker over the right-center field wall.
Dillon Dingler led off the bottom of the frame with a double but didn’t advance.
Justyn-Henry Malloy had a one-out single against Yankees reliever Luke Weaver in the eighth. Weaver then set down pinch hitter Kerry Carpenter on a fly ball and Riley Greene with a strikeout.
Detroit reliever John Brebbia hit two players with pitches in the ninth. Second baseman Colt Keith then booted a Rice grounder, loading the bases. Judge ripped a single to left to score two runs. Cody Bellinger walked to load the bases again, but a double play and strikeout kept the score at 4-0.
Detroit’s rally began when Spencer Torkelson drew a leadoff walk against Devin Williams. After Williams struck out the next two batters, Javier Baez singled and Trey Sweeney walked to load the bases.
A wild pitch brought in Torkelson, and McKinstry’s single made it 4-3. McKinstry advanced to second on the throw. Leiter then replaced Williams and induced Malloy to pop out.
