The Houston Astros used a group effort to make up for what they hope is the one start ace Dallas Keuchel will miss with a pinched nerve in his neck. Brad Peacock and three relievers combined for a one-hitter and Jose Altuve provided the offense with an RBI double to lead the Astros to a 1-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday night.
Peacock was solid moving out of the bullpen to make a spot start for Keuchel. In his first start since September, Peacock allowed the lone hit and struck out eight in 4⅓ innings. He was lifted after walking Tyler Collins with one out in the fifth inning.
Peacock is one of only four players who have been on this team since 2013. He was happy to be able to step up on Monday night after struggling through some tough times in his career.
Chris Devenski (3-2) took over and pitched 2⅔ innings for the win before Will Harris pitched a scoreless eighth. Ken Giles struck out two in the ninth for his 12th save to allow the Astros to bounce back after being swept by the Indians over the weekend.
Detroit’s only hit was a single by Mikie Mahtook with one out in the third on a night the Tigers tied a season high by striking out 14 times. The team’s only baserunner after Collins was Victor Martinez, who was plunked with one out in the seventh. But Houston still faced the minimum in that inning when J.D. Martinez grounded into a double play to end the seventh.
Some wondered if fatigue might have been a factor in Detroit’s struggles at the plate after the Tigers arrived at their hotel around 5 a.m. Monday following a night game in Detroit. But manager Brad Ausmus brushed off that notion.
The Astros struck early against Michael Fulmer (5-2) when George Springer drew a leadoff walk before scoring on the double by Altuve to make it 1-0 with one out in the first.
Houston got five hits combined in the second through fifth innings, but wasn’t able to string enough together to put Fulmer in a bind.
Marwin Gonzalez led off Houston’s seventh with a bunt single before Yuli Gurriel singled to right field. But Fulmer retired the next three batters, with two strikeouts, to escape the jam and end his night.
He allowed eight hits and one run while fanning four for his first loss since April 18.
