Mark Canha hits grand slam in Detroit Tigers’ win over Houston Astros

DETROIT (AP) — Mark Canha hit a grand slam in the seven-run second inning, Kerry Carpenter hit two home runs and the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros 8-2 on Saturday night.

Tarik Skubal (5-0) allowed 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 with neck discomfort a year ago. almost a month old.

The Tigers loaded the bases against Javier in the second half, then he threw four straight balls to Riley Greene, forcing the first run to score. Two pitches later, Canha sat on a changeup and sent it 393 feet over the left-field fence.

Carpenter’s two-run homer put Detroit ahead 7-0 and ended Javier’s brief, difficult outing.

After Houston was held scoreless for a 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 homered off Hunter Brown in the half, giving Detroit a six-run lead.

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.

TRAINERS ROOM

Astros: OF Chas McCormick (right hamstring) is expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment for Triple-A Sugar Land on Sunday.

Tigers: RHP Kenta Maeda was placed on 15-day IL due to a viral illness and RHP Matt Manning will likely replace him in the rotation.

MAKE MOVEMENTS

Houston designated RHP Brandon Bielak for assignment and Detroit recalled OF Akil Baddoo from Triple-A Toledo.

FOLLOWING

Astros RHP Justin Verlander (1-1, 4.43 ERA) is set to make his sixth start against Detroit, where he won the AL and Cy Young awards in 2011 during his 13-season stay with the franchise. Verlander allowed seven earned runs — his highest total since 2017, when he pitched for the Tigers — in a loss last week to the New York Yankees.

RHP Jack Flaherty (0-2, 3.86) is 0-5 with a 5.98 ERA in 12 starts since beating Toronto on August 3, 2023, while pitching for Baltimore.

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