Tigers 6, Astros 2: Astros offense unable to muster support for McHugh

At the end of the 2014 and beginning of the 2015 season, you could pencil in a win for everyone of Collin McHugh's starts. Thus far in May, you've had to use a eraser a bit. Some of that hasn't been McHugh's fault, the offense hasn't stepped up in some of his starts. Other times, McHugh has struggled. Friday fell in the former category.

Only two Astros on Friday were able to get on base with a hit, George Springer and Jason Castro. Both had two hits the game.

Castro got the Astros offense going in the third with a leadoff double. Marwin Gonzalez bunted him over to third, and Castro would score on a throwing error by Ian Kinsler. Luis Valbuena had reached on the same Kinsler error.

George Springer blasted a ball over Anthony Gose's head to dead center for a double of his own, scoring Valbuena. But that was all the Astros offense could muster on Friday.

Doctor McHugh headed to the bottom of the third with a two-run lead. Jose Iglesias and Gose lead off the inning with back-to-back singles. The good doctor retired the formidable bats of Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera. He was just about to get out of the inning when former Astro J.D. Martinez stepped to the plate.

Martinez casually flipped a pitch to right field for a three-run home run. The former Astro strikes again.

The Tigers now lead 3-2. The Tigers settled in, the Astros went down in order for the next innings minus two batters.

Castro's positive day wasn't done at the plate, the Astros catcher was involved in a play that happens all too often in little league. Runners on the corners. Castro blocked a tough pitch from McHugh, and threw down to second to try to catch Miguel Cabrera going to second. Jose Altuve caught the ball and threw home. Castro slapped the tag on Anthony Gose to end the inning.

Chad Qualls entered in the game in the eighth. Three singles, an error, and stolen base later, the Tigers added three more runs.

The final score was 6-2. Lance McCullers makes his second for the Astros on Saturdy at 3:08 p.m. CT.