Tigers  4    Astros  3

Recap: Houston vs. Detroit

Sports Network | June 28, 2009

Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Brandon Inge went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth to lift Detroit past Houston, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game interleague series at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros, who led by a run, turned to Jose Valverde (0-2) in the top of the ninth, but the right-handed pitcher ran into trouble after recording two quick outs. After a walk to Marcus Thames, Inge blasted a 1-0 fastball into the left-field seats to put the Tigers ahead 4-3.

Fernando Rodney worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth to collect his 17th save of the year for Detroit, which avoided a three-game sweep. Bobby Seay (1-1) tossed a scoreless eighth to collect the win. Starter Edwin Jackson lasted seven innings, allowing three runs on five hits with five strikeouts.

Curtis Granderson went 3-for-4 with a solo homer for the Tigers, who have homered in 12 consecutive games for the first time since September 4-17, 1999. Gerald Laird had an RBI double for Detroit, which carried a seven-game winning streak into the series.

Russ Ortiz went 7 1/3 frames, giving up two runs on six hits with five strikeouts to take a no-decision for Houston, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Kazuo Matsui had an RBI double for the Astros, while Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence each had an RBI in defeat.

With the score tied at 2-2, the Astros used an run-scoring two-bagger from Matsui in the home half of the seventh to take the lead. Jackson hit Geoff Blum with a pitch to start the inning. Following two quick outs, Matsui drove the ball into the gap in right-center field. The throw home was off the mark, allowing Blum to easily score.

The Astros plated two runs on three hits in the fourth to break a scoreless tie. Michael Bourn started things with a triple to center and Jeff Keppinger was hit by a pitch. Berkman then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Bourn. Carlos Lee's single put runners on first and second, then, after a Blum pop out, Pence stroked an RBI ground-rule double to left. Ivan Rodriguez went down swinging to end the inning.

Detroit scored a run in the fifth to cut the deficit in half on an Inge single and Laird's RBI double.

Granderson belted a solo homer to right in the sixth to deadlock the tilt.

The Astros reinstated infielder Blum from the 15-day disabled list and optioned infielder Edwin Maysonet to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday...The Tigers placed pitcher Nate Robertson on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to June 27, with a mass in his left elbow on Sunday. To take Robertson's place on the roster, the Tigers purchased the contract of pitcher Fu-Te Ni from Triple-A Toledo...Both clubs are in action on Monday, as Houston will start a seven-game road trip at San Diego and Detroit will travel to Oakland for a three-game series with the Athletics.