Jo Adell homers and Angel Martínez gets 3 hits as Guardians hold off Tigers 6-4

DETROIT (AP) — Jo Adell homered and Angel Martínez had three hits as the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Detroit Tigers 6-4 on Wednesday night to snap a three-game skid.

The Guardians (59-62) are 7-1 against the Tigers this season and have won 12 of the past 14 meetings between the AL Central rivals.

The Tigers (59-61) had won three straight and eight of 10 overall. They were trying to reach .500 for the first time since they were 18-18 on May 4.

Foster Griffin (13-4) allowed three runs — one earned — on four hits and a walk in five innings. He improved to 1-1 in two outings with Cleveland since arriving from Washington in a trade-deadline deal. The rookie left-hander had lost his previous two starts, giving up 11 runs in 9 1/3 innings.

Cade Smith got four outs for his 31st save this season, including five against the Tigers.

Framber Valdez (7-8) took the loss, yielding four runs on six hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

The Guardians scored twice in the first on a run-scoring double play and an RBI double by Martínez, but the Tigers tied it in the bottom half. An error by third baseman José Ramírez gave them a runner at first with two outs before Hao-Yu Lee and Spencer Torkelson hit back-to-back doubles to make it 2-all.

Detroit took a 3-2 lead on Gleyber Torres' homer in the third, but Adell put the Guardians back in front with a two-run homer in the fifth. Adell is hitting .129 (4 for 31) against the Tigers this season with three home runs.

Cleveland made it 6-3 with a two-out rally against Enmanuel De Jesus in the seventh. Angel Genoa grounded an RBI double just inside first base to score Martínez, and Austin Hedges followed with an RBI single.

Kevin McGonigle scored on a wild pitch in the eighth, narrowing the margin to 6-4, but Smith struck out rookie Max Clark in a 12-pitch at-bat to end the inning.

The Tigers put two runners aboard in the ninth, but Cleveland shortstop Brayan Rocchio made a jumping throw from deep in the hole to retire McGonigle and end the game.

The teams finish the three-game series Thursday afternoon, with Cleveland LHP Parker Messick (9-6, 2.57 ERA) facing RHP Keider Montero (8-7, 3.38).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez throws against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians outfielders Steven Kwan, from left, Angel MartÌnez and Petey Halpin celebrate after the final out against the Detroit Tigers during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians' Angel Genao hits a one-run double against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians' Jo Adell, right, celebrates his two-run home run with José Ramírez, left, against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Cleveland Guardians' Jo Adell celebrates his two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

MIAMI (AP) — Daniel Arcila scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the 83rd minute, and Club León advanced to the Leagues Cup knockout stage with a 3-2 win over Inter Miami, which saw star Lionel Messi return following the death of his father.

Messi started the second half and received a loud ovation from fans at Miami's Nu Stadium. It was his first match since his father, Jorge, died Saturday at 68. Messi shared a tribute to his father on social media earlier Wednesday, saying he wasn't sure about his playing future.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you,” the post said in Spanish, shared on Messi’s Instagram. “I don’t know how to keep going. All I ever did was play soccer, and now I have serious doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer.”

Jorge Messi played a fundamental role in the soccer star’s career, serving as his agent and managing his business affairs. Messi returned to his native Argentina over the weekend, missing Miami's 2-1 loss to Monterrey on Saturday, but was dressed and on the bench before subbing in for Daniel Pinter at the start of the second half.

Juan Pablo Domínguez also scored for León, which used a three-goal second half to overcome a 1-0 deficit after Pinter put Miami ahead in the 42nd on an assist from Ian Fray. It was the second straight blown second-half lead for Inter Miami.

Arcila scored with a right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 50th, then whipped the go-ahead goal past Óscar García for his fourth goal of the tournament.

Yannick Bright also scored for Inter Miami, which was eliminated after winning the Leagues Cup in 2023 and reaching the final last year.

The Herons' chances of advancing were already bleak after entering the match 12th in the MLS standings following their loss to Monterrey. Only the top four clubs from the MLS standings and the top four from Liga MX will advance to the quarterfinals.

León, after winning its first two matches of the tournament, moved to first in the Liga MX standings.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Inter Miami forward Leo Messi, center, sits on the bench before a Leagues Cup soccer match against Club León, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami defender Ian Fray, left, passes the ball as Club León midfielder Sebastian Santos, right, defends during the first half of a Leagues Cup soccer match, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami defender Ian Fray, left, reacts after forward Daniel Pinter, right, scored a goal during the first half of a Leagues Cup soccer match against Club León, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami forward Leo Messi, left controls the ball as Club León forward Juan Domínguez (8) defends during the second half of a Leagues Cup soccer match, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) stands on the field during the second half of a Leagues Cup soccer match against Club León, Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)