CLEVELAND — Javier Báez made his first home run since April 14 a big one, sending a three-run drive deep into Progressive Field’s left-field bleachers for all the runs the Tigers’ bullpen needed Thursday afternoon in a 3-0 win over the Guardians.

The win salvaged a four-game series split and clinched a 4-3 road trip for the Tigers, who return to Comerica Park for a nine-game homestand against the Twins, Guardians and Royals within two games of .500. Detroit has won 12 of its past 17 games despite being down to three healthy starting pitchers while awaiting Casey Mize to return from the injured list, Reese Olson to begin rehabbing from a right shoulder strain and Kenta Maeda to build on some early success in bulk relief.

Tyler Holton, making his second start in three days, tossed two scoreless innings with two strikeouts to begin a procession of relievers that held the Guardians to four hits, three of them doubles, while striking out 10.

Gavin Williams kept the Guardians in it, tossing six quality innings with nine strikeouts, but one rally from the bottom of the Detroit order was enough to doom him. A Bligh Madris infield single and Jake Rogers single to left put runners at first and second for Báez, who was moved to the ninth spot in the order Wednesday for the first time since 2017 with the Cubs.

Williams hung a 2-1 slider over the plate that Báez crushed, sending a 409-foot drive deep to left for his second homer of the season and Detroit’s only extra-base hit of the afternoon.