HOUSTON _ They landed in Texas around 4 a.m. Monday morning, a bumpy flight in the books, and arrived in their hotel rooms around 5 a.m., one heck of a tired bunch following a Sunday night loss to the Rangers.
The Tigers' offense looked the part Monday night.
As expected, their bats sagged in the first game of what will be a grueling 10-day road trip. They recorded one hit against Astros spot starter Brad Peacock, none against their first-place bullpen in 4 2/3 innings and lost, 1-0, at Minute Maid Field.
The only bright spot was right-hander Michael Fulmer, who arrived in the heart of Texas on Sunday, many hours before his teammates would arrive as to get a good night of sleep.
Fulmer continued to show mid-season form and early-season durability, allowing one run on eight hits over seven innings. It was his ninth quality start in as many tries this season, tied for second-longest streak to start a season in franchise history.
Fulmer walked one and struck out four. His season ERA is 2.55.
His only hiccup came in the bottom of the first inning, when Jose Altuve doubled home George Springer. Fulmer walked Springer to lead off the inning.
He would only allow one extra-base hit the rest of the way and wiggled out of a two men on, nobody out jam in the seventh inning by striking the next two batters out and inducing a pop up to shortstop from Josh Reddick.
The Tigers' offense, meanwhile, was too jet-lagged to create as much as a threat against the Astros pitching. After Peacock departed in the fifth inning with eight strikeouts, righty Chris Devenski blanked them for three. Will Harris pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Ken Giles picked up his 12th save of the season in the ninth.
The Tigers struck out 14 times. They are 21-22.
