HOUSTON (AP) — Chas McCormick and Martín Maldonado hit consecutive homers and Luis Garcia worked seven strong innings as the Houston Astros stretched their winning streak to a season-high five games with a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday night.
McCormick’s two-run homer to center in the second inning put the Astros up 2-1. Maldonado followed with a solo shot that just cleared the wall in right field.
“I’m happy that we are starting to win,” McCormick said. “We are getting the ball rolling. This team is a really good team. I’m just happy that we are starting to win some games. It’s been a long stretch of games, and it’s been a good feeling that we have been winning.”
Garcia (2-1) had his best outing of the season, allowing two runs, one earned, on two hits. He struck out nine, matching his career high. The right-hander retired the final 15 batters he faced, including five straight by strikeout at one point.
Garcia said his cutter was nasty, but he had to figure it out after the third inning. Maldonado said it was a mechanical adjustment Garcia made.
“(His cutter) was really good, and it had shape to it and depth to it,” Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “I couldn’t tell if it was a cutter or curveball or slider. He had them off balance with it.”
Houston played its 15th straight game out of 17 without an off day. The Astros next off day will be on Monday. Houston starters have pitched into the sixth in seven straight starts and 10 of the last 12 starts.
“It starts with the starters,” Baker said. “The deeper they go, the better our bullpen is and not overworked, and it’s been really great during this stretch because we were fearful with this stretch with all the games that we have play in a short period of…
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