|
 After blowing a pair of late, one-run leads the previous two
games, the Astros held on for a 6-4 victory over the Tigers on
Sunday at Minute Maid Park to claim the rubber game of the
three-game weekend series.
Astros left-hander Tony Sipp struck out the pinch-hitting Kinsler
with Nick Castellanos on third base to close a tense eighth inning.
Moments earlier, Castellanos, the Tigers' third baseman, smacked a
two-run triple off Astros right-hander Jose Veras to score
designated hitter Victor Martinez and left fielder J.D. Martinez and
cut the deficit to one run.
"One thing is for certain: We've got a strong group of men in that
clubhouse," Astros manager Bo Porter said. "They responded today in
the way that you would be proud of and I'm proud of them."
The Astros (36-47) added a crucial insurance run in the bottom of
the eighth when first baseman Jon Singleton delivered a two-out,
bases-loaded RBI single to center off left-hander Blaine Hardy after
the Tigers (44-34) intentionally walked right fielder George
Springer in order to face Singleton. Pinch runner Marwin Gonzalez
scored on the base hit.
Detroit executed the same strategy in the sixth inning,
intentionally walking Springer to load the bases with two outs.
Singleton worked a walk off Patrick McCoy to force in center fielder
Alex Presley, ending a string of six consecutive plate appearances
concluding with strikeouts.
"Just being resilient," Singleton said. "I still had a job to do. I
still had to go out there every inning and perform."
Springer, Astros designated hitter Jesus Guzman and left fielder
L.J. Hoes delivered RBIs in the first inning against Tigers
left-hander Drew Smyly (4-7) before the Astros reclaimed their
three-run lead in the third when Hoes added a run-scoring double
that plated third baseman Matt Dominguez, who doubled off Smyly with
one out. Smyly departed following his walk of shortstop Jonathan
Villar and, before Singleton produced in his final plate
appearances, the Detroit bullpen held firm.
"I was sick yesterday. I'm not going to use that as an excuse. It's
whatever," said Smyly, who allowed four earned runs on eight hits
and two walks while striking out three over 2 1/3 innings.
"I don't want to talk about it and I don't want you to write about
it, honestly. It's whatever. I don't know what (Tigers manager) Brad
(Ausmus) said, but it had no effect on my (performance)."
[to top of second column] |
Said Tigers catcher Alex Avila of Smyly: "He was pretty sick
yesterday. He was sent back to the hotel. Today he was feeling
pretty bad but good enough to pitch, obviously. You know, he battled
his butt off and tried to give everything he had today.
"It was unfortunate he left a couple of breaking balls up, and they
capitalized."
The Tigers clawed back from a 4-1 deficit with a leadoff home run
from Avila in the fifth inning and Castellanos' triple. Avila
smacked his fifth homer off Astros right-hander Scott Feldman (4-5),
who allowed two runs on seven hits and one walk before departing
with Castellanos on first base and no outs in the seventh. Astros
left-hander Darin Downs entered and walked Avila but stranded two
runners to close that frame.
Sipp retired the Tigers in order in the ninth inning for his first
save.
NOTES: With 2B Ian Kinsler given the day off, Tigers CF Austin
Jackson hit atop the batting order for the first time in 2014. Prior
to this season, Jackson had 2,555 plate appearances as the Tigers'
leadoff batter. ... Astros LHP Dallas Keuchel had a soft cast
removed from his left wrist and played catch for the first time
since being diagnosed with wrist inflammation. Keuchel missed his
scheduled start on Saturday. ... Astros CF Dexter Fowler missed a
third consecutive game with back tightness.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
