HOUSTON (AP) – Gerrit Cole struck out eight in 5 2/3 strong innings, and the Houston Astros hit three home runs in a 9-1 win over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
Cole (10-2) allowed one run and three hits with four walks after being activated from the bereavement list prior to the game. He threw six shutout innings in his last start Monday against Oakland.
Josh Reddick and Evan Gattis hit back-to-back solo homers in the fifth to chase Detroit starter Michael Fulmer (3-9). Tyler White added a two-run shot to left in the seventh.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Gerrit Cole delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston got to Fulmer early with five runs in the first three innings.
The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the first on Yuli Gurriel’s sacrifice fly and Reddick’s run-scoring bloop double to shallow center. George Spring had an RBI double and Alex Bregman a run-scoring single in the second to push the lead to 4-0. Marwin Gonzalez’s RBI single in the third made it 5-0.
James McCann had an RBI double in the sixth, snapping a 19-inning scoreless streak for the Tigers. Detroit hadn’t scored since the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game against the Rays. The Tigers have lost six straight.
Fulmer gave up seven runs and a season-high 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings. He lost his fourth straight decision and has allowed at least three runs in each of his last five outings.
GETTING THEIR RINGS
Detroit RHP Mike Fiers and LHP Francisco Liriano received their World Series championship rings before Saturday’s game. Fiers pitched for the Astros from 2015-2017, while Liriano was acquired by the Astros at the trade deadline last season and appeared in five postseason games.
ASTROS ROSTER MOVE
With Cole coming off the bereavement list, the Astros optioned OF Jake Marisnick to Triple A Fresno.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: SS Carlos Correa (back stiffness) does not have a definitive timetable for when he will begin a rehab assignment, manager A.J. Hinch said. Correa has been on the disabled list since June 29.
UP NEXT
Tigers: Liriano (3-5, 4.74 ERA) will make his 15th start Sunday in the series finale looking to rebound after allowing seven runs on eight hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Rays on Monday.
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (9-4, 2.05) will make his 21st start of the season and the first of his career against his former team. Verlander threw six scoreless innings but did not factor into the decision Monday against the Athletics.
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Houston Astros’ Josh Reddick reacts after hitting a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros’ George Springer, right, is tagged out at home by Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros’ Josh Reddick watches his solo home run off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros’ Evan Gattis (11) celebrates his solo home run off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer with Marwin Gonzalez during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) is removed from a baseball game by manager AJ Hinch (14) as catcher Tim Federowicz watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Detroit Tigers’ Nicholas Castellanos, left, scores a run on James McCann’s RBI-double past Houston Astros catcher Tim Federowicz during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer, right, is removed from a baseball game by manager Ron Gardenhire during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros’ George Springer reacts after his RBI-double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Houston Astros’ Josh Reddick, right, slides into second for a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith)
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