Tucker a boon off the bench
Rookie delivers second pinch-hit home run of series to spark a rally.
Preston Tucker’s major league career is just over two weeks old, and al ready he’s hit a pair of big home runs.
What’s surprising — at leas t to him — is that both came when the 24-year-old outfielder was pinch hitting.
“I don’t necessarily feel comfortable pinch hitting. Once I step into the box, I feel the same, but just the process of it is something I’m not really used to,” Tucker sai d. “That’s pretty cool that I’ve been able to help us win.”
Tucker’s three-run shot in the sixth inning Sunday tied the game, and the Houston Astros went on to a 10-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
It was Tucker’s second game-tying homer of the series. He hit one as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning Thursday, although the Astros ended up losing. Those are his only two home runs since being called up to the majors earlier this month.
“He dominated Triple-A — he didn’t get here by acc ident,” Houston’s Evan Gattis said. “Just glad to see him getting an opportunity up here,
and glad to see him making the most of it.”
Gattis also homered during a four-run sixth for the Astros, when they wiped out a 7-3 deficit. The following inning, Jason Castro lined a tiebreaking two-run single with the bases loaded and two out.
Joe Thatcher (1-1) got the win by pitching the sixth — the first of four innings of work by the Houston bullpen. Luke Gregerson allowed a homer to Miguel Cabrera in the ninth, but held on for his 12th save in 13 chances.
Detroit reliever Alex Wilson (11) took the loss.
The AL West-leading Astros have hit a major league-leading 64 home runs. They won the last two games of this four-game series to salvage a split.
Tigers starter Anibal Sanchez allowed seven runs for the second consecutive start.
Detroit led 5-3 after a wild first inning. Sanchez and Houston starter Roberto Hernandez settled in a bit after that, but both were out of the game by the bottom of the sixth.
Gattis led off the top of that inning with his ninth home run of the year. With men on first and third and two out, Tucker hit a drive that easily cleared the wall in right to tie the game at 7.
The Astros loaded the bases with two out in the seventh, and Castro lined a single to right off Angel Nesbitt, Detroit’s third pitcher of the inning.
Rangers 5, Yankees 2: Adam Rosales hit a two-run homer off Chris Capuano that bounced off the top of the left-field wall, Yovani Gallardo won for the second time since mid-April and Texas sent New York to its 10th loss in 11 games.
Prince Fielder had three hits and two RBIs for the Rangers, who swept the three-game series and extended a winning streak to five.