Justin Verlander pitched a two-hitter and lost, allowing homers to John Hicks and Ronny Rodriguez as the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Hicks led off the ninth with a tiebreaking blast to left-center field off Verlander (15-5), who leads the majors in strikeouts with 239 but ranks second in homers allowed with 33.
The veteran right-hander retired the first 14 batters, with six strikeouts, before Rodriguez homered to the seats in right with two outs in the fifth. Verlander sat down another 10 straight before Hicks connected.
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Daniel Norris throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Houston had just four hits before Robinson Chirinos belted his 14th homer to left-center on Tyler Alexander's first pitch of the seventh to tie it at 1.
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Detroit Tigers' Ronny Rodriguez (60) hits a home run as Houston Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos reaches for the pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)
Houston Astros' Robinson Chirinos, left, celebrates with George Springer (4) after hitting a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019, in Houston. (AP PhotoDavid J. Phillip)