HOUSTON (AP) – Spencer Torkelson tied his career high with three hits, highlighted by a two-run home run in the eighth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers past the Houston Astros 6-3 on Tuesday night.
The Tigers, who posted a 7-6 victory in 11 innings on Monday, have won two games against the Astros after being swept by the Rays in their season opener.
Detroit led by 1 with one out in the eighth when Riley Greene tied a career high with his third hit of the night on a single to center. Torkelson followed with his shot that bounced high off the center field wall to make it 5-2.
Matt Manning (1-0) gave up six hits with two walks and two runs in 5 2/3 innings in his season debut.
Houston starter Framber Valdez (0-1) allowed eight hits and three runs – two earned – with nine strikeouts in seven innings.
Kyle Tucker homered with two hits and two RBIs for the World Series champion Astros, who fell to 2-4.
Braves beat Cardinals
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Austin Riley hit a two-run homer and Dylan Dodd pitched five strong innings in his major league debut, helping the Atlanta Braves beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1 Tuesday night.
Dodd allowed one run and six hits. The lefty struck out three and walked none, throwing 52 of his 73 pitches for strikes.
Jesse Chavez, Joe Jimenez, Dylan Lee and Kirby Yates combined for three scoreless innings before AJ Minter worked a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.
Louis got his only run on a Willson Contreras RBI single in the fourth. The Cardinals put runners on second and third with two out in the fifth, but Dodd (1-0) got Tommy Edman to fly out to right.
Riley drove a Steven Matz changeup deep left to make it 2-0 in the first. Riley also homered in Atlanta’s 8-4 victory on Monday.
Orlando Arcia led off the second with another home run for the Braves, and Sean Murphy had an RBI single in the third.
Matz (0-1) allowed 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Louis Taylor Motter went 1-for-2 with a fifth-inning double in his major league debut.
Tyler O’Neill tried to score on Brendan Donovan’s pinch-hit single as St. Louis tried to rally in the seventh, but Ronald Acuna Jr. threw O’Neill at the plate to end the inning.
