Back-to-back HRs in first propel Houston
HOUSTON — The Tigers are on pace to lose 114 games. Whatever self-belief they gained from Victor Reyes’ leadoff home run Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park, the Astros stomped it out the first chance they had to strike back.
In the American League’s deepest lineup, the top provided the most pop, a onetwo knockout blow of consecutive opposite-field home runs by George Springer and Jose Altuve that thrust the Astros to a 6-3 victory.
Springer’s 10th leadoff homer set a new single-season franchise record, surpassing the old one he set in 2017. It was his 34th career leadoff home run and 27th overall this season. Altuve’s homer was his 23rd this season.
The Astros added three more runs in the second inning.
Martin Maldonado walked and nine-hitter Jack Mayfield, starting at shortstop in replace of the injured Carlos Correa, doubled him Maldonado to third.
With two outs, Altuve topped a slider. The ball rolled foul, turned fair, teased third baseman Dawel Lugo, letting Maldonado score without a throw.
Altuve improved to 11 for 33 (.333) with two outs and runners in scoring position this season. Michael Brantley improved to 18 for 49 (.367) in the same situation with a double that drove in Mayfield and Altuve.
Houston scored five runs off Tigers starter Spencer Turnbull (3-12, 4.05 ERA), who lasted just three innings.
For a second consecutive night facing statistically moribund pitching, Houston’s prolific offense caught fire quick but burned out. The Astros could not deliver more runs in nine other opportunities with runners in scoring position — which only happened once after the fourth inning — and left 10 men on base.
Reyes’ leadoff homer was only the second time he went deep in his 333 majorleague at-bats. It might have been the first sign that Aaron Sanchez, who made his fourth start for the Astros, would not last long.
Sanchez made a 5-1 lead look fragile, and the righthander could not get through the third inning. After the first three Detroit batters reached base on two hits and one walk, manager A.J. Hinch called for righthander Brad Peacock, who had not pitched in 55 days because of shoulder discomfort, to get warm.
Sanchez walked the fourth batter, Miguel Cabrera, to push across a run. Hinch then let Sanchez record the first out before removing him. In his 21⁄3 innings, Sanchez threw 46 pitches. He has a 4.82 ERA with the Astros.
Peacock entered with the bases loaded. He almost stranded them. He induced weak contact, but it was too weak. A slow groundout brought in a third earned run charged to Sanchez and made it 5-3.
Maldonado made it 6-3 in the fifth with a home run to left field that traveled 108.3 mph and pelted an advertisement beneath the train tracks.
Yordan Alvarez drew four walks.
Six Astros relievers gave up six hits and one walk, but none of the Tigers they put on base reached third. The bullpen struck out 10 batters.
Peacock (7-6, 4.05 ERA) smoothed over a single he allowed in the fourth to earn his first win since June 11.
Collin McHugh, another starter-turned-reliever for the Astros, overcame three hits with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings.
Roberto Osuna converted his 29th save.