Astros 1, Tigers 0
HOUSTON -- Dallas Keuchel pitched eight shutout innings and extended his home winning streak, leading the Houston Astros to a 1-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night at Minute Maid Park.
Keuchel (2-1) pitched without the benefit of much run support. It didn't matter. He surrendered five hits -- all singles -- and didn't issue a walk until Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias worked one with one out in the eighth. Keuchel has won 17 consecutive regular-season home decisions.
Keuchel is now tied for the eighth-longest home winning streak since 1913, recently accomplished by Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez.
Astros left fielder Colby Rasmus delivered the lone run of the game, driving home George Springer with an RBI single in the first inning after Springer singled and advanced to second on a Carlos Correa walk off Tigers right-hander Mike Pelfrey (0-2).
Houston closer Luke Gregerson entered in the ninth to face the middle of the Detroit (6-3) order. He retired Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez on five pitches as the Astros (4-7) snapped a three-game skid. Gregerson earned his third save on the season.
When Pelfrey closed the sixth inning by facing the minimum for a second consecutive frame, it served as a reminder to how many opportunities the Astros squandered in their first three at-bats.
Houston loaded the bases with one out in the first inning and loaded them again in the second, that time with no outs. Pelfrey navigated those trouble spots by surrendering just one run via a Rasmus single.
Pelfrey struck out Evan Gattis before inducing a groundout off the bat of Carlos Gomez in the first inning. In the second, Astros shortstop Carlos Correa followed a George Springer strikeout by rolling into an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play. Pelfrey induced another inning-ending double play in the third, this time from Gomez, after allowing a single to Rasmus prior to a Tyler White walk to open that inning.
Even when Astros catcher Jason Castro swiped just his fourth career base and moved to third base with one out in the fourth, Pelfrey was undaunted. Springer lined out to right field that snuff that mild threat.
The Astros finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position against Pelfrey, who departed allowing just one run one five hits and six walks over six innings. Pelfrey threw 104 pitches and struck out three batters.
NOTES: Astros RHP Lance McCullers will be scratched from his start Saturday with Double-A Corpus Christi as he continues to deal with lingering discomfort during the recovery period between starts. McCullers, placed on the 15-day disabled list on March 25 with right shoulder soreness, made his first rehab start earlier this week and experienced no complications during the outing. The club will tweak his throwing program. ... The Tigers could make a decision on the status of RHP Alex Wilson within the next 24 hours. Wilson made his fourth rehab appearance on Thursday night and has been on the DL since April 2 (retroactive to March 25) with right rotator cuff capsulitis. ... Tigers DH Victor Martinez is poised to become the fifth Venezuelan-born player with 1,000 career RBIs. Martinez opened the weekend series with 997 and trails teammate Miguel Cabrera (1,449), Andres Galarraga (1,425), Bobby Abreu (1,363) and Magglio Ordonez (1,236) on the list.