Pinch-Hit Magic! Lee's 10th-Inning Heroics Stun Giants as Tigers Steal the Series

SAN FRANCISCO — When the game hung in the balance, Hao-Yu Lee didn't blink. The Tigers' pinch-hitter delivered a 10th-inning single that sent Detroit to a 3-1, series-clinching victory over the Giants — and put an exclamation point on a 7-2 West Coast swing.

Lee's base knock brought home automatic runner Riley Greene for the go-ahead run, and Spencer Torkelson followed with a single of his own. Max Clark's groundout added an insurance run, and the Tigers slammed the door from there.

Bullpen Bites

Kenley Jansen looked absolutely filthy in the ninth, striking out the side to earn the win. Tyler Holton then mowed down the Giants in a perfect 10th for his second save of the season. This Tigers bullpen didn't just hold the line — it slammed the gate.

Deal on the Mound

Troy Melton was dealing again. The right-hander scattered four hits and a walk over six-plus innings, allowing just an unearned run while punching out five. He hasn't surrendered an earned run in his last 20 innings — and has given up two or fewer in 12 of his 13 starts this season. That's not a hot streak. That's a statement.

Logan Webb was just as sharp for San Francisco, yielding one run on four hits and a walk across eight gritty innings — 100 pitches of pure competitive fire.

Turning Point

The Tigers broke through in the sixth when Zach McKinstry and Kevin McGonigle singled to open the inning, then McKinstry scampered home on Gleyber Torres' double-play grounder for a 1-0 edge.

But the Giants answered in the seventh. After Devers singled and chased Melton, a fielding error by catcher Eduardo Valencia helped Basabe reach scoring position, and Drew Gilbert's infield single tied it up. Just when SF thought it had momentum, Devers grounded into a rally-killing double play with the bases loaded in the eighth. Brutal.

Defense Wins

Don't sleep on the glove work. In the fourth, McKinstry gunned down Willy Adames trying to score on a flyout — a game-saving throw that kept things scoreless early. That's the kind of play that wins games in October, and it kept the Tigers in it until the bats woke up.

Up Next

Detroit heads home to open a series against the Guardians on Tuesday, likely facing RHP Tanner Bibee (4-11, 3.85 ERA). The Giants, meanwhile, welcome the Astros to town Monday. This one stings for SF — but baseball gives you no time to pout.