Tigers rally in ninth to slay Astros
DETROIT -- Jose Iglesias beat out a single to first with two outs in the ninth to score Tyler Collins from third to cap a two-run rally that gave the Detroit Tigers a 3-2 victory over the Houston Astros and extend their winning streak to five games.
James McCann tied the score at 2-2 with a line single to left on a 1-2 pitch by Houston closer Will Harris (1-2), who got the first two outs of the ninth but then walked Justin Upton and gave up a single to center to Collins.
Collins advanced to third after McCann's hit when left fielder Alex Bregman's throw was offline and bounced away from catcher Evan Gattis for an error.
Jose Altuve scored from third on Colby Rasmus' fielder's choice forceout at second with one out in the ninth to finish a two-run Houston rally that gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Justin Verlander (11-6) entered the ninth with a two-hit shutout plus a 1-0 lead, pitching hitless ball for 7 1/3 innings. George Springer singled to start the ninth, Altuve singled to short with one out and Carlos Correa looped a single to center to tie the score at 1-1.
Rasmus hit a ball that shortstop Iglesias snared as it rolled into left and turned into a forceout at second while Altuve scored the go-ahead run.
Verlander walked one and struck out 11, the fifth time this season he's reached double digits in strikeouts.
Mike Fiers allowed just the one unearned run, walked two and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings.
Cameron Maybin singled to right center with two outs in the sixth and scored from there when second baseman Altuve dropped Miguel Cabrera's high popup for an error.
Altuve stumbled drifting over toward right field tracking Cabrera's towering popup and it skipped off his glove for an error as he dove. He either lost track of the ball due to losing his balance or a gust of wind blew it sideways away from the second baseman as it came down.
Either way it was a catchable ball as Altuve seemed to have it in sight as he recovered from the stumble.
NOTES: Houston INF Marwin Gonzalez was out with a bad right hand and CF Carlos Gomez has a bad hamstring. "We're thin," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's late July. I think a lot of teams are beat up a little bit." ... Detroit 3B Nick Castellanos said he knows how frustrated Tigers fans feel. "I'm a (Miami) Dolphins fan," he said. "Every week I either love everybody or I want everybody fired. I get it." ... The Tigers' rotation is unsettled, but manager Brad Ausmus said RHP Anibal Sanchez will start Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox and rookie RHP Michael Fulmer will go Wednesday.