The Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers finished their three-game set on May 12th, and the Astros took two of three games from the Tigers in Detroit. On Saturday, May 11th, the Tigers outscored the Astros 8-2, and the Astros answered back on Sunday and won 9-3. The Astros ace Justin Verlander took the mound against Jack Flaherty and pitched 7 strong innings against the Tigers without giving up a run.
Flaherty kept Houston scoreless for 5.1 innings but gave up a two-run homer to Kyle Tucker in the top of the sixth inning and another run to Jake Meyers in the top of the seventh. The floodgates opened from there, and the Astros were able to score six more times. However, Kerry Carpenter and Spencer Torkelson prevented it from being a shutout, with Carpenter hitting a solo home run and Torkelson hitting a two-run homer, which was his first round-tripper of the year.
Verlander Bounces Back
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On May 7th, Justin Verlander faced off against the New York Yankees in The Bronx. The 41-year-old gave up seven earned runs in five innings, prompting fear that Verlander’s age finally caught up to him. Those fears seem to have disappeared as Verlander went seven innings against the Tigers and only gave up two hits and two walks to the Motor City Kitties.
The Astros ace notched eight strikeouts against the Tiger’s hitters, striking out Greene and Vierling in the 1st, Carpenter in the 2nd, Torkelson and Kelly in the third, Ibanez in the fifth, and then Torkelson and Carpenter again in the sixth and seventh innings respectively.
Verlander notched his second win of the season, putting him only 41 wins away from the 300 mark. He also lowered his ERA on the season to 3.38.
Torkelson Hits a Homer
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Not all was negative in Detroit, though. Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson finally hit a home run. Having come up with the Tigers’ new pizza spear homerun celebration, it’s good to see him finally be able to participate in it.
Torkelson’s homer also increased his hit streak to seven games in which he’s gone 8-25, which is good enough for a .320 Avg, along with a .393 OBP and .600 SLG. The 24-year-old first baseman also leads MLB with 13 doubles, four of which he’s hit during his seven-game hitting streak.
Astros Face Athletics
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With the conclusion of the three-game set in Detroit, the Astros will head home to host the Oakland Athletics. The AL West division rivals will play four games against each other, with the A’s sitting in third place with a 19-23 record and the Astros in fourth place with a 15-25 record.
If Houston can win three of four games or sweep the A’s, it will bring them that much closer to .500.
Tigers Go Fishing
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The Tigers, however, will be staying in Detroit and facing off against the Miami Marlins in Comerica Park. Matt Manning is expected to be on the bump for Detroit on Monday, with Sixto Sanchez pitching for the Marlins.
The Tigers sit in 4th place in the AL Central with a .500 record of 20 wins and 20 losses. The Marlins, however, are 20 games under .500 at 11-31 and are dead last in both the NL East and Major League Baseball.
While I’m hoping for a sweep as a Tigers fan, I’ll be just as happy if they can take two of three from the Marlins. Torkelson getting another homerun and/or continuing his hitting streak would add a nice cherry on top.
About the Author
Shawn Simpson has been a fan of the Detroit Tigers ever since he was a kid and is also a fan of video games. You can check out his other work here. Make sure to check out all the great content that Total Apex Sports has to offer. Be sure to check us out on X @TotalApexSports, as well as our other sites such as Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
