The Detroit Tigers bullpen turned another lead into a loss on Saturday, June 27, against the Houston Astros.
Framber Valdez handed it off to his relievers with a two-run lead entering the final three innings. But Tigers relievers gave up four runs combined over the seventh and eighth innings, turning that late advantage into an 8-6 loss. Drew Anderson gave up one run in the seventh and Will Vest gave up three in the eighth to earn the loss.
The Tigers entered the final innings ahead thanks to a power surge. Kerry Carpenter hit his 12th home run of the season and third career grand slam – and the first this season for the Tigers (35-48) – to turn an early 3-0 deficit into a one-run lead in the third inning. Carpenter jumped on a hanging curveball from Kai-Wei Teng for a 390-foot blast to right field.
Houston answered with a fourth run off Valdez in the top of the fourth, but Spencer Torkelson re-established an advantage with an RBI double in the bottom half. Second baseman Hao-Yu Lee added an insurance run with his third home run this season in the fifth.
Anderson let three runners reach with two outs in the seventh, resulting in a run for the Astros (41-44). Vest gave up three singles and a double for three runs, two of which were earned, in the eighth.
At the plate
The Tigers started the game sizzling with three straight batted balls over 100 mph in the first inning. The offense couldn’t capitalize on its advantage, though, until the second time through the lineup in the four-run third inning.
The Tigers loaded the bases without any hits, instead reaching via Kevin McGonigle’s walk, a Jose Altuve error and Spencer Torkelson getting hit by a pitch. Carpenter then cleared the bases with his second home run to right in as many games.
Jake Rogers scored on an RBI double from Torkelson in the fifth. And then Lee jumped on a hanging first-pitch slider from Steven Okert for a solo home run into the left-field bullpen. The Tigers have hit five home runs in the past two games.
The Tigers had 11 hits, but finished 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine on base.
On the mound
Valdez (4-5, 4.05 ERA) was far from perfect in his second start against his former team. He gave up one run on six hits across six innings in a 4-2 loss to Houston on June 16 in his first reunion with the team he left for a $115 million deal in the offseason.
On Saturday, Valdez gave up four runs on eight hits with two strikeouts in six innings. Houston tagged Valdez for runs in the second, third and fourth innings, but he finished his day with two clean innings to exit in position for the win.
Anderson gave up a two-out rally, starting with a walk to Isaac Paredes. Altuve and Christian Walker followed up with singles to make it 6-5. Lefty Drew Sommers came in and tamped down the threat, though.
Vest came in for the eighth. Righty Yainer Diaz started the rally with a single to left. Christian Vazquez and Jeremy Pena had two soft hits escape the infield for singles, tying the game at 6. Paredes drove in the two deciding runs with a double.
The Tigers surrendered 15 hits, two walks and committed two errors.
Next up: The finale
The Tigers and Astros will wrap up the four-game series on Sunday (1:40 p.m., Detroit SportsNet). Right-hander Jack Flaherty (1-8, 5.35 ERA) is expected to make his return from the injured list. St. Clair Shores native (and Wayne State alumnus) Hunter Brown (1-0, 1.40 ERA) will make his third start for the Astros since returning from the injured list.
Contact Jared Ramsey at jramsey@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kerry Carpenter grand slam wasted when Tigers bullpen blows it vs Astros
Reporting by Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Jared Ramsey, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
