Tigers Crush Slumping Astros, 8-2. Skid Stretches to Four Straight

Astros pitching surrendered five home runs to the Tigers tonight, including three off Houston’s premier off-season acquisition, Jake Odorizzi. It was Odorizzi’s first appearance as an Astro, who went only 3.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits.

Odorizzi cruised until the 3rd inning, when he gave up a homer to Akil Badoo, who got his fourth of the season and second in two nights against the Astros. The wheels fell off for Odorizzi in the fourth, when he gave up two, two-run homers, one to Nomar Mazara, and the other to Renato Nunez.

Wilson Ramos added two more Tigers home runs, one in the fifth off Bryan Abreu, and another in the ninth off Nivaldo Rodriguez.

The Astros actually held a brief lead when Myles Straw singled home Yordan Alvarez to give the Stros a 1-0 lead in the second.

But the Astros would not score again until the ninth when Kyle Tucker doubled Yuli Gurriel to third, who scored on a Chas McCormick sac fly.

When you’re in a four game losing streak, you have to find consolation in small triumphs. Tonight it was rookie Nivaldo Rodriguez’ appearance in long-relief. Rodriguez went three innings and was scoreless until Ramos’ second homer in the ninth, (and sixth for the year).

Rodriguez had three K’s, two hits, and one walk in his three inning stint.

The Astros try to recover some dignity tomorrow in the last game of the homestand. Game time an hour early, 6:10 CDT. Lance McCullers tries to staunch the bleeding.

Box Score and videos HERE.