DETROIT — It seemed like things were aligning just right for the Tigers Saturday night. The storms stayed north of the city, for one thing. And after winning the first game, 3-1, manager AJ Hinch had a fresh bullpen at his disposal for Game 2.
And for five innings, things were running like clockwork. Starter-opener Willy Peralta got eight outs and passed the baton to Kyle Funkhouser, who got seven.
The Tigers, up 2-0, headed into the final two innings with Michael Fulmer and Gregory Soto ready to lock it down.
Then Yordan Alvarez happened. And Carlos Correa happened.
Back-to-back home runs off Fulmer in the sixth propelled the Houston Astros to a 3-2 win and a split of the double-header at Comerica Park.
After giving up a leadoff double to Jose Altuve, Fulmer got two quick outs before Alvarez stepped in. Working mostly the lower half of the strike zone with fastballs and sliders, Fulmer took the battle to a full count.
Alvarez, who seemed locked in the entire at-bat, crushed a 94-mph two-seamer that was down and over the plate, knocking it into the visitor's bullpen in left-center. Tie game.
Two pitches later, Correa hit the exact same pitch in nearly the same location — only he hit it over the Tigers bullpen in left. Ballgame.
Jonathan Schoop provided the only offensive spark for the Tigers, scoring the first run and knocking in the second.
The Tigers took advantage of a couple well-placed singles to get on the board in the first inning against Astros starter Lance McCullers, Jr.
Schoop blooped a single to center and with two outs, Nomar Mazara rolled an RBI single through the Astros’ shift.
McCullers, whom the Tigers KO'd in Houston on April 14, dispatched 11 straight hitters until Harold Castro singled with one out in the fifth. With two outs, after Akil Baddoo worked a walk, Schoop lined on through the hole at shortstop, scoring Castro.
Mazara, who had two hits, doubled with one out in the sixth to chase McCullers. But right-hander Ryne Stanek doused the threat in the sixth.
Astros closer Ryan Pressly, throwing 98-mph heaters and 12-to-6 breaking balls, struck out Harold Castro, Zack Short and Baddoo to close it out.
