Minnesota 1 at Detroit 2 - Recap

DETROIT -- Matt Boyd did not give up a hit until the sixth inning, James McCann blasted a two-run homer and the Detroit Tigers held off the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Tuesday at Comerica Park.

Robbie Grossman's two-out single was the only hit off Boyd, who was removed after the inning. A quartet of relievers followed, with Francisco Rodriguez recording his third save for Detroit (5-2) despite allowing a ninth-inning run.

McCann hit his third home run in the fifth off losing pitcher Hector Santiago (1-1). The Twins starter allowed just three hits in 6 1/3 innings. Jason Castro drove in the lone Minnesota run with a single.

Boyd (1-1) confounded the Twins (5-2) with a variety of breaking pitches. He recorded all six of his strikeouts on a changeup, slider or curveball.

It was a stark contrast to his season debut against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, when he lasted just 2 1/3 innings and gave up five runs on five hits and four walks.

The only baserunners he allowed before Grossman's single were one-out walks -- Grossman in the first and Chris Gimenez in the fifth.

McCann broke the scoreless deadlock in the fifth when he jumped on a Santiago fastball and lined it over the left-field wall. The one-out shot also brought home Justin Upton, who was hit by a pitch.

Detroit reliever Shane Greene allowed two baserunners among the three batters he faced in the seventh. Manager Brad Ausmus then brought in left-hander Kyle Ryan, who induced Eddie Rosario to hit into a double play.

Rodriguez gave up a one-out double to Miguel Sano prior to Castro's RBI single. Pinch hitter Joe Mauer followed with a bloop single. Rosario then flied out and pinch-hitter Max Kepler popped out.

NOTES: Tigers RF J.D. Martinez took swings in the batting cage on Monday as he works his way back from a mid-foot sprain. Martinez, who was injured during spring training, is not expected to return until next month. The team has yet to decide on what type of rehab stint he'll have. "He really has been progressing extremely well," manager Brad Ausmus said. "He's probably slightly ahead of schedule." ... Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer, who won the American League Rookie of the Year award last season, will oppose Twins RHP Kyle Gibson in the second game of the three-game series. Both received no-decisions in their season debuts. ... Detroit had a 15-4 record against Minnesota last season. ... The Tigers have homered in the first seven games of the season for just the second time since 1913. The other instance was 2014. ... Minnesota CF Byron Buxton is now 2-for-29 this season with 17 strikeouts. He struck out three times on Tuesday.