HOUSTON (SportsRadio 610)- Jose Altuve's three-hit night helped the Astros to their third straight win, beating the Detroit Tigers 6-3 Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park.
The Astros fell behind after Victor Reyes led off the game with his first home run of the season, but that lead was short-lived because George Springer led off the Astros first inning and smacked a 1-1 slider from Spencer Turnbull over the rightfield wall for his franchise record 10th leadoff home run of the season, and 27th overall. Three pitches later, Altuve's big night began.
He dumped a 2-0 fastball from Turnbull over the rightfield wall for his 23rd homer, and in the second inning he followed a Martin Maldonado walk and Jack Mayfield double with an RBI single, making it 3-1 Astros. Michael Brantley followed with a two-run double, pushing the Astros lead to four.
Astros starter Aaron Sanchez retired the next three he faced after the Reyes homer and worked around a leadoff double in the second, but a double, walk, and single loaded the bases against him in the third. He walked Miguel Cabrera to force home a run. His night ended after the next batter, Brandon Dixon popped out. Brad Peacock replaced him, seeing game action for the first time since June 27 and allowed one of the inherrited runners to score. Following a scoreless fourth, Collin McHugh replaced Peacock in the fifth, tossing a scoreless inning, and in the bottom of the frame, the Astros grew the lead.
Turnbull was done following three innings, and after Matt Hall stranded the bases loaded in the fourth, Maldonado launched a 2-1 fastball over the Crawford Boxes for his eighth home run, inching Houston's lead to 6-3.
McHugh held the Tigers scoreless in the sixth as did Joe Smith in the seventh. Ryan Pressly did the same in the eighth. Roberto Osuna pitched the ninth for the third straight day and locked down his 29th save as the Astros improve to 81-46.
Reyes, Cabrera, Jordy Mercer and Gordon Beckham had two hits for the Tigers who lost their fourth straight game.
Justin Verlander will take the hill for the Astros Wednesday opposite Daniel Norris.