New York Mets pitcher Justin Verlander throws against the Detroit Tigers during Thursday’s game in Detroit. Verlander lost 2-0 in his first game with the Mets after an injury caused him to miss the first month of the season. Paul Sancya/Associated Press

DETROIT — Justin Verlander gave up back-to-back home runs in his New York Mets debut and Eduardo Rodriguez threw eight scoreless innings as the Detroit Tigers completed a three-game sweep with a 2-0 win Thursday.

Riley Greene and Javier Baez hit solo homers off Verlander in the first inning, and that was enough offense for Detroit.

Rodriguez (3-2) gave up just two hits and one walk while striking out nine. Alex Lange pitched the ninth for his fifth save.

Verlander (0-1) settled in after his rough start, showing signs of the form that led to him winning the Cy Young award last year for the third time and helping the Houston Astros win the World Series for a second time.

The 40-year-old right-hander allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out five in his 79-pitch outing. He started the season on the injured list because of a muscle strain in his upper back.

RAYS 3, PIRATES 2: Zach Eflin pitched seven scoreless innings, Randy Arozarena hit one of three Rays homers, and Tampa Bay finish a three-game sweep at home.

Taylor Walls and Yandy Díaz also homered for Tampa Bay, and Eflin (4-0) scattered three hits and struck out 10. The right-hander allowed just one base runner to reach scoring position, when Carlos Santana hit a two-out double in the seventh.

Tampa Bay, at 26-6, is off to the best start through 32 games since the 1984 World Series champion Detroit Tigers went 27-5.

The NL Central-leading Pirates (20-12) have lost a season-high four straight.

Pittsburgh starter Vince Velasquez (4-3) left after just three innings and 54 pitches because of elbow discomfort and will undergo tests.

ANGELS 11, CARDINALS 7: Luis Rengifo homered, drove in four runs and finished a triple shy of the cycle, as Los Angeles completed a three-game sweep at St. Louis.

The Angels won for the fourth straight time to improve to four games above .500. The Cardinals lost their sixth in a row and have dropped nine of their last 10.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ORIOLES 13, ROYALS 10: Ramon Urias hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the eighth inning, then added a two-run double in the ninth, helping Baltimore overcome a blown seven-run lead at Kansas City.

Gunnar Henderson and Anthony Santander hit homers, and Cedric Mullins also drove in three for the Orioles, who led 8-1 before their bullpen allowed Kansas City to come back.

TWINS 7, WHITE SOX 3: Carlos Correa drove in a run during Minnesota’s five-run 12th inning, and he and Byron Buxton homered as the Twins avoided a three-game sweep at Chicago.

Correa hit a solo shot in the sixth off Lucas Giolito before Buxton tied the game at 2-2 with an eighth-inning blast off Reynaldo López.

MARINERS 5, ATHLETICS 3: Taylor Trammell homered for the second time in five days since coming off the injured list and drove in three runs as Seattle extended its winning streak to four games and completed a series sweep at Oakland.

George Kirby (3-2) pitched seven mostly strong innings for Seattle. Kolten Wong added two hits and two RBI.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

NATIONALS 4, CUBS 3: Alex Call hit a game-ending homer leading off the ninth inning, and Washington recovered after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat visiting Chicago.

Call lofted the only pitch from Brad Boxberger (1-1) just inside the left-field foul pole.

Washington led 3-0 after seven near-flawless innings by starter Patrick Corbin. The veteran left-hander had given up only one hit – a popup by Cody Bellinger that shortstop CJ Abrams lost in the sun – before allowing back-to-back singles to start the eighth. Manager Dave Martinez pulled him for Hunter Harvey, who quickly allowed the Cubs to tie it.

BRAVES 6, MARLINS 3: Marcell Ozuna homered for third time in two games, Ronald Acuña Jr. stole his league-leading 15th base, and Atlanta won in Miami to complete a three-game sweep.

Acuña went down in the sixth after fouling a ball off his left knee. He remained on the ground and grabbed at his leg for several minutes, but finished the at-bat and returned to right field in the bottom of the frame. He was eventually removed out of precaution.

Matt Olson also homered for the Braves, winners of five of their last six. They have hit 19 home runs in seven games against Miami this season, including six in a 14-6 win Wednesday night.

ROCKIES 9, BREWERS 6: Charlie Blackmon had two hits and two RBI, and Colorado used a five-run eighth inning to beat visiting Milwaukee for its season-high fourth straight win.

NOTES

GUARDIANS: Cleveland optioned struggling starting pitcher Zach Plesac to Triple-A Columbus.

Plesac is 1-1 with a 7.59 ERA in five starts. The right-hander’s problems extend to last season. He went 3-12 with a 4.31 ERA in 24 starts last year.