Matt Vierling powers Tigers past Cardinals, 4-1

Matt Vierling drove in three runs, including a two-run home run, and the host Detroit Tigers defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

Vierling, a St. Louis native, also scored twice for the Tigers, who took two of three games in the series. Detroit has won its last four series.

Colt Keith added an RBI double for the Tigers. Kenta Maeda (1-1) recorded his first win in a Tigers uniform. Maeda gave up one run on four hits. He didn't walk a batter while striking out five.

Will Vest, Joey Wentz and Alex Lange combined for three shutout innings, with Lange recording his second save.

Willson Contreras accounted for St. Louis' lone run with a home run. Starting pitcher Miles Mikolas (2-4) gave up three runs and six hits. He didn't walk a batter while recording four strikeouts. St. Louis has lost three of its last four games.

Riley Greene led off the bottom of the first with a double but was stranded at third base. The Tigers didn't squander an opportunity in the second. Vierling led off with a single and scored on Keith's double to right.

Kerry Carpenter's two-out single preceded Vierling's third homer of the season in the third. Vierling hit a liner over the left-center-field wall.

Contreras put the Cardinals on the board with his fifth homer, a blast over the center field fence, leading off the fourth.

Vest gave up singles to Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Arenado in the seventh. Paul Goldschmidt then hit into a double play. Wentz entered for Vest and struck out Alec Burleson

With two out in the eighth, pinch-hitter Jose Fermin singled and Brendan Donovan walked. Lange replaced Wentz and struck out Contreras on a 3-2 curveball.

Detroit tacked on a run in the eighth off JoJo Romero. Wenceel Perez and pinch-hitter Andy Ibanez hit back-to-back singles and Vierling drove in Perez with a sacrifice fly.

Goldschmidt drew a two-out walk in the ninth.