This was a low-scoring game until the eighth inning saw the Astros blow things open and ultimately win the game 4-2.
The Tigers’ starting pitcher for tonight’s game should feel right at home taking the mound in the former Minute Maid Park. Framber Valdez spent his first eight years in the majors with the Houston Astros, and returned tonight in his Tigers’ uniform, facing off against his old club. The Astros, meanwhile, were counting on Hunter Brown as they would attempt to tie up the series after
the Tigers’ Monday night win. Detroit would be working without Colt Keith, though, whose hitting heroics helped them win last night, but was a late scratch for Tuesday’s game.
The Tigers kicked things off with a single from Kevin McGonigle. He was quickly eliminated, however, in a force out off the bat of Dillon Dingler. With two outs, Riley Greene singled, but Dingler got caught making a play for home, and the Tigers were done in the first, though they put in a valiant effort. In the home half, Christian Walker got a two-out single, followed by a double from a former Tiger, Isaac Paredes, deep into the corner in left. A Jose Altuve flyout ended the inning, though.
Spencer Torkelson took a leadoff walk in the second. Two outs followed, but Torkelson moved his way up to third, so when Hao-Yu Lee singled, Tork was able to come home easily, putting the Tigers on the board first. Lee was subsequently caught stealing to end the inning.
Yainer Diaz walked to start the home half, but three outs followed, getting the Tigers out of a potential jam.
The Tigers went 1-2-3 in the top of the third. In the home half, Jeremy Pena started with a leadoff double. Yordan Alvarez then singled. But Valdez righted the ship after a rough start to the inning, and got the next three outs in order.
It was another 1-2-3 for the Tigers in the fourth, which isn’t going to serve them well. As we’ve seen time and time again with this team, the lead needs to be bigger than one run, especially as the game gets turned over to the bullpen. Valdez did his part, getting the Astros out three-up, three-down in the home half.
Wenceel Perez walked to start the fifth, but three outs quickly followed. In the home half, Raynel Delgado singled, and then with two outs was advanced to third. Christian Walker then lived up to his name with a walk. A rare and brutally timed passed ball by Dingler allowed Delgado to score, tying up the game. Paredes walked. Then Dingler got a bit of good karma back as he challenged a ball call that was overturned for the third strike and final out of the inning. But the game was now tied 1-1.
The Tigers continued to struggle in the sixth. Carpenter got a two-out walk, and that was enough to chase Brown from the game, but reliever Steven Okert came in to get the final out of the inning on the first batter he faced. In the bottom of the inning Cam Smith got a one-out single, but Valdez got out of the jam, leaving the game still tied 1-1 through six. Valdez got the shake when he got back to the dugout, so his day was done with a final line of 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K on 92 pitches.
Enyel De Los Santos was the new Astros reliever for the seventh. He came in and got through the Tigers in short order. Keider Montero was the first reliever out of the Tigers’ pen. Pena got a leadoff single, but Montero got the next three outs in order.
Bryan King came in from the Astros’ pen and Lee got a leadoff double against him. A Matt Vierling (pinch-hitting) groundout moved Lee to third, and a Dingler sac fly was able to bring him home. I think that probably makes Dingler even for the passed ball earlier. The Tigers would have to settle for the one run, but the game was no longer tied.
Yanier Diaz got a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth. Cam Smith then reached on a fielder’s choice, but a fielding error from McGonigle allowed both baserunners to remain safely on. That was it for Montero, though, who was replaced by Will Vest with two on and only one out. Joey Loperfido walked to load the bases. Delgado then hit a liner right between every player on the infield and scored two runs. The Tigers were able to turn a double play to end the inning, but it was close enough at first for Houston to challenge. They won the challenge, so instead of ending the inning, the Astros scored another run and stayed in play. A.J. Hinch went back to the bullpen. Drew Sommers came in and got the final out of the inning but the damage had certainly been done.
Josh Hader was the next reliever for the Astros. Riley Greene singled, then Torkelson was out as Paredes nabbed a ball headed for the dugout. Two more outs followed and the Tigers were unable to stage a comeback. The series would come down to the afternoon rubber match on Wednesday afternoon.
