DETROIT — AJ Hinch was asked before the game Monday if a series like this, four games against the Central Division-leading Cleveland Guardians, forces the Tigers to elevate their game.

“Well,” the Tigers’ skipper said, “if we want to matter it does. This is a real challenge. We’re playing these guys ten times in the next few weeks. We know exactly who they are and what they are and what they represent.”

The Guardians came into the series six games up on the second-place Twins and 15 up on the Tigers.

“It doesn’t matter what the calendar says,” Hinch said. “These games matter. We’re staring at the team that’s well ahead of us.”

The two teams stared each other down for seven-plus scoreless innings. Then, in the bottom of the eighth, catcher Jake Rogers led off with a double and went to third on a single up the middle by Wenceel Perez.

Third base coach Joey Cora, uncharacteristically, held Rogers at third base. Perez ended up being thrown out at second base for the first out.

But all's well that ends well.

Rogers scored when shortstop Brayan Rocchio misplayed a slow ground ball hit by Mark Canha and the Tigers won their fourth straight game, beating the Guardians 1-0 at Comerica Park.

The Tigers have had several runners thrown out going on contact from third base on an infield ground ball. This time, Rogers going on contact forced a hurried play and an error.

Right-hander Shelby Miller, who had some rough moments on the recently-completed road trip, closed it out in the top of the ninth.

One player who certainly rose to the challenge was rookie right-hander Keider Montero. Making his second straight start for injured Casey Mize (hamstring), he blanked the Guardians for six-plus innings in a most-economical 73 pitches.

He kept the Guardians’ hitters off-balance with a deft blend of well-located four-seam fastballs (95 mph), knuckle curveballs, sliders and change-ups. They were unable to square up many baseballs, evidenced by the 85.6-mph average exit velocity on the 16 balls they put in play.

They struggled to get the ball in the air against him, too. Montero induced nine ground-ball outs and two double-play balls.

He threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of the first 21 batters he faced, which helped him exploit the aggressive approach of the Guardians, who were swinging early and often. Montero needed nine pitches to get through the fourth, seven to get through the fifth and 10 to finish the sixth.

Montero gave up a single to Angel Martinez leading off the seventh. He allowed only three and Martinez got two of them. He fell behind 3-0 on the ever-dangerous Jose Ramirez, which brought pitching coach Chris Fetter to the mound.

Certainly Fetter warned him that Ramirez will be aggressive on 3-0. He also wanted to buy time for lefty Tyler Holton to get loose in the Tigers’ bullpen.

Both things happened. Ramirez jumped on the 3-0 pitch and flew out to right. And Holton came in and got the Tigers out of the seventh inning.

It was as befuddling night for Tigers’ All-Star Riley Greene. He flew out to the wall in the first inning (390 feet). He flew out to the wall again in the fourth (402 feet). In the sixth, he blooped what looked to be a double down the left-field line.

The Guardians challenged the ruling that the ball landed fair. It was overturned. Greene then ripped a shot in the hole between first and second. Second baseman Andres Gimenez made a diving stop and threw Greene out at first.

Tough game.

Holton bridged the game to the ninth, brilliantly retiring all five hitters he faced.

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