It was a night for familiar faces and a new hero.
Hunter Brown returned from the injured list and held Detroit to one run over 5.2 innings. Yainer Diaz returned from a six-week absence and sparked the decisive rally with a single in the eighth. And Raynel Delgado, in just his third big-league game, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and the Astros trailing by one, and lined a ground ball through the middle to score two runs and put Houston ahead for good.
The Astros beat the Tigers 4-2 Tuesday night at Daikin Park, evening the series and improving to 34-41.
“It’s definitely the biggest moment of my career so far,” Delgado said. “I was just praying it got through.”
Brown and Framber Valdez—Houston’s former ace, back at Daikin Park for the first time as a visitor—traded scoreless frames for most of the night. Valdez stranded runners at second and third in the first inning, including a double by Isaac Paredes that was the 100th of his major-league career, worked around traffic in multiple other innings, and finished with a quality start. Brown was shakier early, allowing a run in the second on a sharp grounder that shortstop Jeremy Peña couldn’t corral, but retired 11 of his final 13 batters and struck out seven.
He also got a big assist in the first inning. With two outs and Dillon Dingler on base, Riley Greene lined a single to right field. Cam Smith played the carom and threw to Peña, whose relay arrived well ahead of Dingler to end the inning. Brown escaped and the inning was over.
“Did some things that weren’t so great and then made some big pitches when I had to as well,” Brown said. “I feel like I settled in pretty good after the second inning.”
The game stayed 1-1 until Detroit pushed ahead in the eighth on a Lee double and a Dingler sacrifice fly. Houston answered immediately. After Altuve struck out to open the inning, Diaz singled. A McGonigle error on a Smith chopper put two on base. Joey Loperfido walked to load the bases for Delgado.
Manager Joe Espada caught Delgado’s eye from the dugout. “I said, ‘Don’t look at me, this is your at-bat, this is your moment,'” Espada said.
Delgado jumped on Vest’s first pitch and drove it into center field for two runs. Peña’s forceout scored a third.
Josh Hader allowed a leadoff single in the ninth—the only hit he has surrendered in six outings since returning from the IL—but retired the next three to earn his third save of the season. The outing was also his 230th career save, which pushed him past Joakim Soria and into 44th place on baseball’s all-time list.
The Astros and Tigers play the series finale Wednesday afternoon at Daikin Park. Houston will look to take the series win with Peter Lambert starting.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check the Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
