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Tigers rough up former ace Verlander in win over Astros

Bob Levey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

HOUSTON (AP) John Hicks hit one of Detroit's four home runs off Justin Verlander, and the Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday.

Verlander (9-5) allowed a season-high six runs on six hits, striking out 12, as he lost his third straight decision.

This was Verlander's first time facing his former team since being traded to Houston last year. Verlander won 183 games as a Tiger from 2005-2017.

Verlander struck out 10 of the first 15 batters he faced but was hurt by the long ball.

Hicks connected in the second inning, a two-run shot to left center. In the fourth, Jeimer Candelario blasted the first pitch he saw into the Astros' bullpen, making it 4-2.

Detroit padded its lead in the sixth with a pair of solo shots by Niko Goodrum and Jim Adduci.

The Tigers had scored just five runs in the last four games.

It was the first time Verlander has given up four homers in a game since June 26, 2016, against Cleveland.

Francisco Liriano allowed one run in three innings before leaving with lower back tightness. Drew VerHagen (1-2) came in and allowed one run on two hits in three innings.

Yuli Gurriel scored two runs and hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth for the Astros. The defending World Series champions head into the All-Star break at 64-35.

CLIMBING THE RANKS

With his dozen strikeouts, Verlander passed Bob Feller (2,581) and Warren Spahn (2,583) to move into 26th in major league history with 2,588 in his career. Next is Tom Glavine (2,607).

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: Leonys Martin (hamstring) is expected to play Monday, Wednesday and Thursday with Triple-A Toledo.

Astros: There is still no rehab plan for Carlos Correa (back stiffness). Manager A.J. Hinch said Correa is not doing anything aggressively on the field that warrants a plan to send him out.

UP NEXT

Tigers: LHP Matthew Boyd (4-8, 4.76 ERA) will open up the second half for Detroit against Boston. In his last start, Boyd allowed five runs on four hits and struck out eight in six innings.

Astros: LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-8, 3.75 ERA) will open up the second half for the Astros against the Angels. In his last three starts, Keuchel is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

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