DETROIT (AP) — Rookie Parker Meadows hit his first career homer with two out in the ninth inning, lifting the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the Houston Astros on Friday night.
The Astros led 1-0 going into the ninth and Houston closer Ryan Pressly struck out the first two batters. Miguel Cabrera, Zach McKinstry and Javier Báez then singled, and pinch-runner Carson Kelly scored from second on Báez’s liner into center.
Meadows, playing his fourth career game, then homered to right field.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 25: Parker Meadows #22 of the Detroit Tigers takes a Gatorade dump from Riley Greene #31 after his walk off three run home run to beat the Houston Astros 4-1 at Comerica Park on August 25, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo …
Alex Lange (6-3) worked the ninth for the win. It was the fifth blown save for Pressly (3-4) in 33 opportunities.
Houston wasted a stellar start by Framber Valdez, who struck out six and walked five in seven hitless innings. The left-hander, who threw a no-hitter against Cleveland on Aug. 1, matched a career high with 114 pitches.
The 29-year-old Valdez became the seventh pitcher with two hitless starts in a season of at least seven innings. Max Scherzer was the last major leaguer to accomplish the feat in 2015 with the Washington Nationals.
Bryan Abreu relieved and retired Matt Vierling on a popup before pinch-hitter Kerry Carpenter singled on a grounder through the hole between first and second.
The Tigers missed an opportunity to score in the second. Valdez hit Jake Rogers and walked Riley Greene. Cabrera hit a ball to the wall in right, but Kyle Tucker kept it in the park.
Rogers took third on the play, but tried to score on Zack Short’s grounder to third and Alex Bregman threw him out.
Houston took the lead in the third. José Abreu reached on Short’s throwing error and Rogers was called for catcher’s interference on Jeremy Peña. After Martín Maldonado’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Jose Altuve hit a high chopper for an infield RBI single.
The Astros nearly doubled their lead in the fourth, but Meadows made a jumping catch at the center-field wall to take extra bases away from Yordan Alvarez.
ROSTER MOVE
The Astros optioned right-hander Brandon Bielak to Triple-A Sugar Land after he threw 5 1/3 innings in a 17-1 loss to the Red Sox on Thursday. They recalled right-hander Ronel Blanco to take his spot.
MOCK CHEERS
After throwing errors in the third and fifth innings, Short received a loud cheer from the Comerica Park crowd when he successfully threw out Bregman in the sixth. Rogers also committed two errors, both for catcher’s interference.
UP NEXT
The teams play the second game of the weekend series on Saturday. Houston RHP Hunter Brown (9-9, 4.50 ERA) facing Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-6, 3.03 ERA).