DETROIT (AP) — Matt Boyd allowed three hits in six outstanding innings, and the Detroit Tigers beat Minnesota 1-0 on Monday night to hand the last-place Twins another loss just hours after they announced the firing of general manager Terry Ryan.
Justin Upton homered in the second to back Boyd (1-2), who struck out seven with one walk and provided a welcome boost to a rotation that has shown little depth of late.
Three relievers finished for the Tigers, with Francisco Rodriguez pitching a hitless ninth for his 26th save in 28 chances.
Minnesota announced Ryan’s firing before the game, then lost in relatively punchless fashion. Ricky Nolasco (4-8) allowed one run and three hits in six innings.
Upton’s homer was the 200th, and although the Tigers left the bases loaded in the third, Boyd and the bullpen made their one run stand up. Detroit is without injured right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, and the rotation has looked thin behind Justin Verlander and rookie Michael Fulmer.
Boyd, however, has been impressive in his last two starts. He allowed one run in five innings against Toronto in his final outing before the All-Star break.
Monday was the longest scoreless start of the 25-year-old left-hander’s career. The Tigers acquired him in last year’s trade that sent David Price to Toronto.
The only real misstep by Boyd came in the sixth, after he snagged Joe Mauer’s line drive up the middle. Looking pleased with himself, Boyd flipped the ball from his glove to his bare hand and then threw the ball into left field in a failed attempt to start the toss around the infield.
Boyd’s biggest jam was in the fourth, when he got Eddie Rosario on a grounder for the third out with two on. The Twins didn’t have another baserunner until Miguel Sano’s one-out walk in the ninth.
