Gleyber Torres walked with the bases loaded in the 10th inning as the host Detroit Tigers edged the slumping Houston Astros 1-0 on Tuesday night.
With two outs, Torres took a 3-2 pitch from Kaleb Ort (2-2), who issued two other walks (one intentional) in the inning. Ghost runner Wenceel Perez scored the lone run.
The game featured a pitcher’s duel between American League All-Stars Hunter Brown and Tarik Skubal. Houston’s Brown gave up five hits and struck out six in six innings, while Skubal limited the Astros to three hits and fanned 10 in seven innings.
Will Vest (6-2) pitched the last two innings to pick up the win.
Houston was shut out for the fourth time in five games and hasn’t scored a run in 28 innings.
Detroit had two baserunners on with two out in the first, as Torres singled and Riley Greene drew a walk. Spencer Torkelson then grounded out.
Both starters recorded two strikeouts in the second. Skubal also got some help from center fielder Perez, who caught Christian Walker’s fly ball at the wall.
In the third, Houston’s Chas McCormick drew a two-out walk and Jeremy Pena singled. Skubal then struck out Carlos Correa.
The Tigers had runners at the corners in the bottom of the third on singles by Trey Sweeney and Torres, but Kerry Carpenter lined into an inning-ending double play.
Houston nearly ended its scoring drought in the fourth. Yainer Diaz had a two-out single and tried to score on Ramon Urias’ double. Diaz was called out at home and the Astros challenged it but, after a lengthy review, it was confirmed.
Skubal struck out the side in the fifth, then Detroit had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the bottom of the inning, as Zach McKinstry led off with a triple.
He held at third on Dillon Dingler’s grounder before Sweeney struck out. Brown walked Colt Keith, then retired Torres on a fly ball.
Skubal finished his stellar outing with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh.
Houston was unable to advance the ghost runner in the 10th against Vest, who allowed one hit and struck out one in his two innings.
–Field Level Media
