DETROIT– Mark Canha hit a grand slam in a seven-run second inning, Kerry Carpenter scored twice and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Houston Astros 8-2 on Saturday night.
Tarik Skubal (5-0) gave up two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out seven in 6 1/3 innings.
Cristian Javier (2-1) allowed seven runs on five hits and four walks in 1 1/3 innings, making his first start since going on the injured list because of neck discomfort nearly a month ago.
The Tigers loaded the bases against Javier in the crucial second and then he threw four straight balls to Riley Greene, forcing the first run home. Two pitches later, Canha threw a changeup and sent it 393 feet over the left field fence.
Carpenter’s two-run home run put Detroit ahead 7-0 and ended Javier’s brief, difficult outing.
After Houston went scoreless for the third straight inning, hitting coach Alex Cintron was ejected after appearing to argue with the umpiring crew.
Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz responded in the fourth inning, hitting RBI singles to make it 7-2. Carpenter hit a home run off Hunter Brown in the first half, putting Detroit ahead by six runs.
The Tigers provided plenty of offense for Skubal, who threw a 100 mph pitch for the first time in his career during a season-high 97-pitch outing.
Detroit, which had lost six of seven games, avoided having a losing record for the first time this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: OF Chas McCormick (right hamstring) is expected to begin a rehab assignment for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.
Tigers: RHP Kenta Maeda was placed on the 15-day IL with a viral illness and RHP Matt Manning will likely replace him in the rotation.
MAKING MOVEMENTS
Houston designated RHP Brandon Bielak for assignment and Detroit recalled OF Akil Baddoo from Triple-A Toledo.
NEXT
Astros RHP Justin Verlander (1-1, 4.43 ERA) is scheduled to make his sixth start against Detroit, where he won AL and Cy Young awards in 2011 during his 13-season stint with the franchise. Verlander gave up seven earned runs — his highest total since 2017, when he played for the Tigers — in last week’s loss against the New York Yankees.
RHP Jack Flaherty (0-2, 3.86) is 0-5 with a 5.98 ERA in 12 starts since defeating Toronto on Aug. 3, 2023, while pitching for Baltimore.
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