Tigers rally late and came up short against Houston

Houston, TX. (WKZO) — Detroit came to Houston for the final meeting of the season with a 51-60 record (3rd in the Central) and 3.5 game back for the final wildcard spot with only 66 games remaining, the Tigers chances of making the playoffs for the 5th straight year is slipping away. Already losing the first two, Tigers manager Brad Asmus was scratching his head trying to see how to combat the Stros explosive offense and come out with a win in the finale. Top 1 with Detroit’s (SS) Jose Iglesias on at first due to a throwing by Houston’s (3B) Marwin Gonzalez, Miguel Cabrera got him in on a RBI double (his 55th on the season) to deep center. After Cabrera advanced to third on a wild pitch, Victor Martinez knocked him on a RBI ground out and Detroit takes a 2-0 lead. The Stros get 4 runs to retake the in the 2nd Houston’s (LF) Colby Rasmus ignited the offense with a leadoff solo blast to right (his 16 of the year) then after (1B) Chris Carter singles and steals 2nd on a wild pitch and (2B) Jose Altuve on first, (3B) Marwin Gonzalez slaps a RBI triple to the gap in left center bring in both Carter and Altuve followed by a RBI single by (SS) Carlos Correa bring home Gonzalez and the Stros go out in front 4-2. Houston added one more in the 3rd when Colby Rasmus crushed a solo shot (2) of the game to right making it a 5-2 Stros lead. But Detroit came roaring back in the 7th scoring 2 runs, with Anthony Gose on at 2nd on a single and steal attempt, Miguel Cabrera steps up and crushes a solo shot to right (his 16th of the season) bring in Gose and just like that the Tiger are back within one run at 5-4. But there was some controversy in the inning on a pitch that appears to be low for ball 4 instead it was ruled a strike and was called out, Jose Iglesias had to be brought back to the dugout still letting the ump. know how he felt and was tossed from the game. After Houston made a pitching change in the 8th, Detroit took advantage of it when J.D. Martinez singles and advanced to 2nd on another error by Houston’s (3B) Gonzalez followed by a RBI single by Tyler Collins bring in J.D.Martinez , Detroit ties the game at 5 all to complete the comeback. But Houston got a break when (RF) Jake Marisnick got a pitch and drove it into deep center over the head of Gose for a triple to lead off the 9th, Jose Altuve got the game winning hit bringing in Marisnick and THAT’S YOUR BALL GAME; the Stros win 6-5 sweeping the final series of the year with Detroit. Houston’s Will Harris (5-2) gets the win striking out 5 while Detroit’s Tom Gorzelanny gets the loss. Detroit will have Monday off and will resume play as they travel to Chi-town to face the red hot Cubs on AM 590 WKZO @ 7:40 PM EST.       Article by Shawn Harris