D’backs shut out struggling Tigers

DETROIT — The Arizona Diamondbacks started the year with relatively low expectations from those outside their clubhouse.

Manager Torey Lovullo and his players, meanwhile, always believed this season would be successful.

So far, it looks like they're right.

Nick Ahmed hit a two-run homer in the second inning, Lourdes Gurriel followed with a three-run blast in the fifth and the NL West-leading Diamondbacks beat the slumping Detroit Tigers 5-0 Saturday.

“We have the right pieces,” Lovullo said. “We have really good players on this team. Am I surprised? No.”

Arizona, which has won four straight, is 14 games over .500 for the first time in nearly five years.

“We have a lot of talent in this room, and guys that are hungry," Ahmed said.

Detroit, which has lost eight straight games, was shut out for the third time this month and eighth time this season.

“We've got to find a different way and we haven't really done that in this stretch,” manager A.J. Hinch said.

Ryne Nelson (3-3) threw 5 scoreless innings. After walking two straight to load the bases, Nelson was replaced by righthander Austin Adams, who ended the sixth by getting Zack Short out on a fly to center.

“That's huge,” Nelson said. “Feel really good with him coming in the game right there. I definitely wanted to go six, and maybe even more, but I made a couple mistakes and walked a couple guys.”

Nelson, who gave up four hits and struck out four, would have had a chance to match his career high with a seven-inning outing if he stayed out of trouble in the sixth.

“There was a thought there that he was going to touch the seventh inning,” Lovullo said. “That's how well he was throwing.”

Marlins 5, White Sox 1: Jean Segura capped Miami's five-run ninth inning with a two-run double, and visiting Miami prevailed.

Miami left 12 runners on base and went 1 for 16 with runners in scoring position. But it salvaged a frustrating afternoon with its late rally, winning for the seventh time in eight games.

Luis Arraez had two hits for the Marlins, raising his batting average to .402 in 60 games. Sandy Alcantara pitched seven innings of three-hit ball.