DETROIT (AP) — Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and the Houston Astros used a four-run eighth inning to rally past the Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Friday night.
Kyle Tucker homered and scored twice for Houston, which has won two in a row after a four-game skid.
Valdez (2-1) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings. He has a 2.49 ERA in eight career games against the Tigers, including seven starts.
Detroit (19-19) has lost six of seven and fell to .500 for the first time this season.
Trailing 2-1, Jose Altuve started the eighth with a single off Andrew Chafin (2-1) and Tucker walked before Yordan Alvarez tied it with a single down the right-field line. Jason Foley replaced Chafin, but Jeremy Peña hit an RBI single on his first pitch.
Jon Singleton hit into a force at second, putting runners on the corners, and Alex Bregman’s grounder to third went through Matt Vierling’s legs for an error. Yanier Diaz followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 5-2.
Bryan Abreu pitched the eighth for Houston and Josh Hader earned his fifth save after closing out the ninth.
YANKEES 2, RAYS 0
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Clarke Schmidt allowed five hits in 6 2/3 innings, Anthony Rizzo homered and drove in two runs, and the New York Yankees beat Tampa Bay.
Schmidt (4-1) struck out six and walked two as he extended his season-opening run of allowing three or fewer runs to eight starts.
Yankees closer Clay Holmes had a stressful ninth inning. He walked two batters with one out and struck out Isaac Paredes looking before pinch-hitter Austin Shenton singled to load the bases. Holmes then struck out Jonny DeLuca to secure his 12th save in 13 chances and complete a six-hitter.
Rizzo had a fourth-inning RBI single and connected on a first-pitch homer against Shawn Armstrong leading off the ninth to help the Yankees win for the sixth time in seven games.
Rays starter Taj Bradley (0-1) gave up one run, four hits and struck out seven over six innings in his season debut. The right-hander had been on the 15-day injured list with a right pectoral strain.
TWINS 3, BLUE JAYS 2
TORONTO (AP) — Carlos Santana hit a tiebreaking home run in the fifth inning, Joe Ryan pitched seven innings and Minnesota won for the 16th time in 18 games by beating Toronto.
Carlos Correa had two hits and scored twice as the Twins won for the ninth time in their past 13 games in Toronto.
Jose Miranda added an RBI single as the Twins, who successfully brought their lucky sausage across the Canadian border, extended their road winning streak to seven.
Ryan (2-2) allowed one run and one hit for his first victory in three starts. He struck out seven and did not give up a walk.
Jhoan Duran worked the eighth and Griffin Jax pitched the ninth for his fifth save in seven chances.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits, including his second home run, but the Blue Jays lost for the sixth time in eight games. Toronto won at Philadelphia on Wednesday but the Blue Jays haven’t won back-to-back games since home wins over the Dodgers on April 28 and Kansas City on April 29.
