GIANTS: Now 34-53

about a month before coming back to the big leagues – and the starting rotation – in the middle of June.

“It’s a good story, and it’s happening to a good person – which makes it a better story,” Ausmus said.

Machado was another feel-good story Thursday. His first home run came in the 146th at-bat of his career. The 25-year-old infielder hit a two-run shot in the second that put the Tigers up 4-0.

“I wasn’t trying, because when you try, you’re going to hit groundballs to third base,” Machado said. “I was just trying to bring the run in and that happened.”

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead on RBI singles by Miguel Cabrera in the first and Alex Presley in the second. Later in the second, Machado connected for his home run. Detroit players ignored him when he returned to the dugout until Nicholas Castellanos grabbed his head and started playfully rubbing it in celebration.

Presley’s RBI single in the third made it 5-0. Joe Panik hit an RBI triple for the Giants in the sixth and scored on Hunter Pence’s groundout.

Castellanos added an RBI single in the eighth for the game’s final run. Shane Greene, Bruce Rondon and Justin Wilson each pitched a perfect inning in relief for the Tigers.

Sanchez’s eight strikeouts were a season high. He didn’t even reach that total in any of his Toledo starts.

“Probably I don’t have the 97 again on my arm,” Sanchez said. “But I’ve got the command, and I think I want to use it.”