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CHICAGO — Rookie Hao-Yu Lee hit a three-run homer, and Keider Montero returned to the rotation with a strong start to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
The Tigers (48-54) took two of three from the Cubs (57-45) and finished their road trip 4-2.
Spencer Torkelson hit a solo homer in the second inning off Cubs starter Colin Rea. It was the 99th home run and 495th hit of his career.
In the fourth, Riley Greene led off with a double and Torkelson walked. Two outs later, Rea fell behind Lee with three straight balls. Swinging away on a 3-0 count, Lee drilled a middle-middle fastball into the left-field seats.
Montero gave up a solo homer to Seiya Suzuki in the first inning but cruised until the sixth, when Pete Crow-Armstrong led off with a comebacker to the mound. Montero couldn’t handle it, allowing Crow-Armstrong to reach on an error.
Montero fought back by striking out Suzuki. Left-hander Drew Sommers then entered and got another comebacker from Michael Busch, turning it into a 1-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Montero struck out eight without a walk in 5 1/3 innings in his first start since June 26.
Drew Anderson, Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the game.
The Tigers increased their lead to 5-1 in the top of the ninth when Spencer Torkelson singled and scored on Zach McKinstry’s double.
In the third, Kevin McGonigle was caught stealing for the first time in his career. He had been successful on his first 11 attempts.
Kerry Carpenter snapped an 0-for-26 skid with a sharp single to right field in the second inning. It was his first hit since July 5.
Up next: The Tigers return home to open a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday at 6:40 p.m. at Comerica Park.
Tigers right-hander Troy Melton (5-1, 1.80 ERA) will face Royals right-hander Randy Dobnak (0-0, 1.93).
The Royals acquired Dobnak from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations last month. After a couple of appearances out of the pen, he made his first MLB start since 2021 on July 18 against the Padres.
Command has been an issue: He has eight walks and seven strikeouts in 14 innings this year.
Melton has been outstanding for the Tigers. He’s allowed one run or fewer in five consecutive starts.
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