Jose Iglesias beat out a single to first with two outs in the ninth to score Tyler Collins from third, capping the two-run rally that gave the Tigers a 3-2 victory over the Astros and extended their winning streak to five games. Detroit 3B Nick Castellanos said he knows how frustrated Tigers fans feel.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Scott Feldman throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, July 31, 2016, in Detroit.
The Tigers combated Altuve’s early home run with two runs on five hits against McHugh in the first inning before blowing the doors open in the second.
“There are definitely more memorable games (in a season) and this is probably one of them”.
The Astros have lost four of five and are now a half-game behind Detroit as both teams chase Boston for the second AL wild-card spot. Jose Altuve has been on fire with 145 hits, 77 runs, 18 homers and 62 RBI. “When August and September roll around, you have to be ready to make a run at the playoffs”. Boyd is 2-0 in his last three starts after going 0-2 in his first six. Instead, Harris had to break his stride to catch the ball. “There’s no other way to put it”.
A two-run rally by Detroit with two out and nobody on in the ninth was about as startling as watching Justin Verlander lose a two-hit shutout by giving up two runs to Houston in the top of the ninth.
The Astros entered the bottom of the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead.
The Astros loaded the bases in the third, but Pelfrey got out of the jam by retiring Carlos Correa on a broken-bat grounder to third. Colby Rasmus hit a soft grounder into the hole, and while shortstop Iglesias was able to get the force at second, Altuve easily scored from third. “Obviously I was shouldering the blame for that. They put some really tough pitches in play and got hits out of it”.
Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said he never seriously considered taking out his ace, who had thrown 96 pitches through eight innings. “He knew that was his kind of inning”. He still hasn’t played the field, but the Tigers are hoping to have him back by week’s end.
The teams continue their three-game series Saturday evening, with Justin Verlander (10-6, 3.64) facing Mike Fiers (7-4, 4.69).
Keuchel (6-11) took the loss, allowing seven runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked one while striking out six. That saved a run when Collins followed with a single, and Fiers got out of the inning. In the second, Cameron Maybin hit a two-run double before Cabrera and Castellanos each delivered run-scoring hits and Tyler Collins provided the dagger.
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By that point, the Tigers had taken a 1-0 lead on a fluke play in the sixth. With two out and Cameron Maybin on first, Miguel Cabrera lifted a high pop fly behind second base. Jose Altuve takes charge on the field whenever he can, it backfired on him as he stumbled and dropped the ball. RED SOX 5, ANGELS 3 Dustin Pedroia hit a go-ahead, three-run home run off Huston Street (3-2) with two outs in the ninth inning. “It’s late July. I think a lot of teams are beat up a little bit.”. “I saw it, but it got so high that I was having trouble staying under it”.
