Detroit Tigers cruise past Houston Astros, 8-2

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal received a standing ovation from fans as he left the field in the seventh inning.

He deserves a lot of credit for this victory.

But the Tigers’ offense stole the show, exploding for seven runs in the second inning in Saturday’s 8-2 victory over the Houston Astros in the second of three games in the series at Comerica Park.

Kerry Carpenter, who hadn’t homered since April 17, hit two of three home runs for the Tigers.

THIS IS (NOT) GOING TO BE MAE-DA:Tigers’ Kenta Maeda (illness) is on injured reserve and will miss at least two starts

Skubal, however, anchored the Tigers (20-19) because he kept the Astros at bay. The 27-year-old, who has a 2.02 ERA in eight starts this season, has allowed two runs on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts in 6⅓ innings, throwing 97 pitches.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, when Astros right-hander Cristian Javier walked Riley Greene on four pitches with the bases loaded.

The next batter, Mark Canha, hit a changeup up the middle for a grand slam to left-center field, making the score 5-0. Two batters later, the Tigers extended their lead to 7-0 on a two-run homer from Carpenter.

Canha hit the 393-foot changeup with an exit velocity of 102.9 mph; Carpenter hit Javier’s fastball 350 feet to right field with an exit velocity of 106.5 mph.

It was Canha’s third career grand slam.