DETROIT — Carlos Corporan smacked a go-ahead double in the ninth and added a solo homer in the second as the Houston Astros snapped a six-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday.
J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer for the Astros, who had lost their first six games to Detroit this season by a combined score of 50-12. The Tigers failed in their bid to sweep a season series of four games or more for the first time in franchise history.
Hector Ambriz (1-2) picked up the victory in relief. Jose Veras collected his fifth save despite issuing two walks and hitting a batter in the ninth. Brandon Barnes made a leaping catch at the right-center field wall to retire Miguel Cabrera and end the final threat.
Avisail Garcia hit his first career homer, a three-run shot in the second, for the Tigers. Al Alburquerque (0-1) took the loss in relief.
With game tied 5-5 in the ninth, Alburquerque issued a leadoff walk to Martinez. Phil Coke then relieved Alburquerque but Corporan’s double knocked in pinch-runner Barnes. Matt Dominguez brought in the final run with a sacrifice fly.
Martinez erased Detroit’s early three-run lead with his third homer of the season in the fourth. Jake Elmore led off the inning with a double, advanced on a balk and scored on Carlos Pena’s single. After a four-pitch walk to Chris Carter, Martinez crushed a Max Scherzer fastball off the brick wall beyond the left-centerfield seats for a 5-4 Astros advantage.
Matt Tuiasosopo’s third single of the game tied it in the sixth. Victor Martinez reached on a two-out error and advanced on a Jhonny Peralta single before Tuiasosopo snuck a single through the shortstop hole.
Garcia’s blast into the left-centerfield stands gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead in the second. After Astros starter Dallas Keuchel retired the first two batters, Peralta walked on a 3-2 pitch. Tuiasosopo slapped an opposite-field single to advance Peralta to third. Brayan Pena’s infield single scored Peralta before Garcia jumped on a 2-0 offering.
Corporan’s third homer of the season during the top of the inning gave the Astros a short-lived lead.
NOTES: The Tigers open their four-game series at Texas on Thursday with a stellar pitching matchup between aces Justin Verlander and the Rangers’ Yu Darvish. “It’s a nice matchup and it’s good for baseball,” Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. “It’s a nice little treat for the fans.” …. Houston has Thursday off, then plays at Pittsburgh for three games. … Detroit reliever Octavio Dotel, who has been on the disabled list since April 20 with right elbow inflammation, is not close to returning. “I think it’s going to be awhile before we see Dotel here,” Leyland said. … Prince Fielder’s 24-game streak of reaching base safely at Comerica ended as the Tigers cleanup hitter went 0 for 4. … Houston recorded two double plays, giving it a major league-best 56.