Astros overtake Tigers with four-run eighth

Jeremy Pena knocked in the go-ahead run during a four-run, eighth-inning rally as the visiting Houston Astros downed the Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Friday.

Kyle Tucker homered and scored two runs for Houston, while Pena and Yordan Alvarez each had two hits and an RBI. The Astros have won two straight after a four-game losing streak.

Astros starter Framber Valdez (2-1) gave up two runs and six hits in seven innings. He struck out four and walked two. Josh Hader pitched around a walk the ninth for his fifth save.

Matt Vierling knocked in both Detroit runners with a double, but he committed a key error in Houston's winning rally. Tigers starter Casey Mize yielded one run on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts in six innings. Detroit has lost six of its past seven games.

Down 2-1, the Astros erupted in the eighth. Jose Altuve led off against Andrew Chafin (2-1) with a single and Tucker walked. Alvarez singled to right to score Altuve while Tucker advanced to third. Pena singled up the middle against Jason Foley to score Tucker for a 3-2 edge.

After Jon Singleton bounced into a fielder's choice, Alex Bregman reached on an error by third baseman Vierling as Alvarez scored. Singleton came home on Yainer Diaz's sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.

The Tigers broke on top in the third inning. Jake Rogers and Andy Ibanez hit back-to-back singles before Vierling smacked a double to left, bringing home both runners. Valdez set down the next three batters to escape further damage.

Tucker led off the sixth with his American League-leading 12th homer, a blast to right field off a Mize fastball. Alvarez followed with a single, but the Tigers turned their second double play of the contest to keep the score at 2-1.

Detroit's Spencer Torkelson hit an opposite-field double with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He was left stranded as Valdez retired the next two batters.

—Field Level Media