American League Game Summary - Houston at Detroit
Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer to help the Detroit Tigers to a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros on Friday.
Alfredo Simon (5-2) got back in the win column after allowing just two unearned runs over seven straight innings. Simon, who struck out five compared to just one walk, hadn't won in his last four starts after opening the season 4-0.
Collin McHugh (5-2) was one of the hottest road pitchers in the majors entering Friday's game but took a step back against Detroit's potent lineup. McHugh allowed three runs on nine hits over seven innings to absorb his first road loss since July 6 of last season, a span of eight starts.
"Pretty bad," said McHugh. "Too many hard-hit balls. Felt like every mistake I made they were hitting hard. I don't feel very good about it."
Detroit outhit Houston 12-4. George Springer and Jason Castro had two hits apiece while the rest of the Astros went a combined 0-for-24.
Neither team scored until the third inning, when Houston took a 2-0 lead before Detroit countered in the bottom half.
Castro led off the top of the third with a double to right and advanced to third on Marwin Gonzalez's sacrifice bunt. With two outs, Ian Kinsler's error on a Luis Valbuena grounder allowed Castro to scamper home and Springer followed with an RBI double to center.
Jose Iglesias and Anthony Gose led off the home half with singles. The next two batters were retired, but Martinez, one swing after crushing a foul ball over the wall in left, went opposite field for a three-run homer.
"Fortunately enough, we got some guys on base and I was able to put a good swing on one," said Martinez.
Of Martinez's nine home runs on the season, it was his sixth that went the other way.
The Tigers pushed three insurance runs across in the eighth against Chad Qualls. Rajai Davis plated Miguel Cabrera with an infield single and Thursday's hero James McCann drove in a pair with his single to center.
McCann hit a walk-off homer to end Thursday's Detroit win.
Joba Chamberlain and Tom Gorzelanny each pitched hitless innings in relief of Simon to secure the win.