Peter Lambert threw seven innings of one-run ball Wednesday afternoon, Jeremy Peña contributed at both ends of the game, and the Houston Astros beat the Detroit Tigers 4-2 at Daikin Park to take the series.
Houston has won back-to-back series just once before this season. They are 35-41.
Lambert was excellent. He allowed two hits, walked nobody, and struck out five across seven innings, with the only blemish a Kerry Carpenter opposite-field homer in the seventh that barely cleared the Crawford Boxes wall. His ERA dropped to 3.23 through 64 innings. Detroit never had a runner in scoring position against him.
Peña got Houston on the board with a solo homer in the third. The offense built from there. Christian Vázquez snapped a 21-at-bat hitless drought with a leadoff single in the fifth that started a two-run rally—Yordan Alvarez doubled him home, and Isaac Paredes drove a Kyle Finnegan fastball off the left-center wall to score Alvarez. In the sixth, Peña singled home Joey Loperfido, who had doubled to open the inning, to push the lead to four.
Jake Meyers made the defensive play of the game in the fourth, tracking a Torkelson drive deep into left-center and diving to make the catch on the warning track.
Enyel De Los Santos handled the eighth. Josh Hader pitched the ninth for the second straight day, giving up a leadoff homer to McGonigle—the first run he has allowed in seven outings since returning from the IL—before punching out the final three batters for his fourth save.
The Astros are off Thursday before opening a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians at Daikin Park on Friday.
Heading to Daikin Park soon? Check the Astros promotions schedule before your next game.
