DETROIT (AP) — Framber Valdez pitched seven strong innings and the Houston Astros used a four-run eighth inning to rally past the Detroit Tigers 5-2 on Friday night.
Kyle Tucker homered and scored twice for Houston, which has won two in a row after a four-game skid.
Valdez (2-1) allowed two runs and six hits, tossing at least seven innings for the first time since his second start of the season on April 2, when he went 7 2/3.
“It had been a long time since I’ve pitched into the seventh,” he said. “I felt a little bit tired, but it felt good.”
Valdez has a 2.49 ERA in eight career games against the Tigers, including seven starts.
“There’s no secret how to beat him,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, who managed Valdez in Houston. “You’ve got to try to get the ball into the air. We did a couple times early, but he made a ton of pitches.”