Houston Astros Fall to Tigers in Extra Innings on Monday Night

The Houston Astros (2-3) lost a heartbreaker in extra innings to the Detroit Tigers (1-3) on Monday night. The game went 11 innings when the Tigers were just barely able to hold onto the lead and win 7-6.

For the first four innings the Astros offense was quiet. Finally, in the fifth inning Houston broke it wide open with a four-run inning capped off with a mammoth three-run blast from Yordan Álvarez.

With the game on the line in the ninth inning, newly signed first baseman Jose Abreu came through in one of the biggest ways possible when he doubled home third baseman Alex Bregman to tie the game at 5-5 to send it to extra innings.

However, in the 11th inning Detroit would plate two runs with the help of former Philadelphia Phillies favorite Matt Vierling as he launched a two-run home run to give the Tigers a 7-5 lead.

It proved to be too much for the Astros who tried to rally in the bottom of the 11th but came up just a run short.

Starter Hunter Brown pitched 4.2 innings in his 2023 MLB season debut and gave up four earned runs. His three walks did not help the matter either.

However, it was Hector Neris who was credited with the loss. Neris, also a former Phillie, gave up the game-winning home run to Vierling in the 11th.

It was a tough loss for the heavily favored Astros who fell to 2-3 on the season.

They will get to try again on Tuesday when they host Detroit for the second of a three game series.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT with Framber Valdez slated to start for Houston.