Astros 5, Tigers 1
HOUSTON -- Left-hander Dallas Keuchel moved one victory shy of matching the franchise record for consecutive home wins as the Houston Astros defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-1 on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Keuchel (14-6) allowed one run, six hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in seven innings and posted his 12th consecutive decision at home.
Right-hander Danny Darwin won 13 consecutive decisions between the 1989 and 1990 seasons at the Astrodome.
The Astros (63-53) improved to 31-9 in their last 40 games at Minute Maid Park, doing so behind timely hit from third baseman Jed Lowrie (1-for-4, two RBIs).
The Tigers (55-60) welcomed back first baseman Miguel Cabrera but dropped their third consecutive game to Houston in the season series. Cabrera finished 0-for-3 with a walk in his first game since July 3.
After the Astros squandered scoring opportunities in the first and third innings, they delivered against Tigers right-hander Alfredo Simon in the fifth. But even that rally required some two-out magic.
Lowrie took a 3-0 pitch for a strike before drilling the next offering into the left-center field gap, scoring catcher Jason Castro and shortstop Carlos Correa to snap a 1-1 tie and push the Astros into their first lead.
Houston added to its lead an inning later, chasing Simon with a triple by left fielder Evan Gattis before first baseman Marwin Gonzalez followed with a squeeze bunt that scored pinch-runner Jake Marisnick.
Keuchel buckled down after surrendering an RBI single to Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez in the fourth. Keuchel worked his way in and out of trouble in the fifth, striking out left fielder Rajai Davis with two runners on before inducing a grounder back to the mound to end the inning.
NOTES: The Tigers activated 1B Miguel Cabrera from the 15-day disabled list, concluding his 35-game absence with a left calf strain. Detroit, which was 15-20 without Cabrera, optioned LHP Kyle Ryan to Triple-A Toledo, where Ryan will work out of the rotation. ... Astros OF George Springer has been cleared for all baseball activities except hitting. He was placed on the 15-day DL July 2 and missed his 35th game with a right wrist fracture. A timetable for his return has not yet been established. ... Astros OF Colby Rasmus was a late scratch after arriving at Minute Maid Park with a sore left knee. He completed Houston's recent nine-game road trip batting .259/.375/.556 with two home runs and six RBIs.