By Dave Hart
LocalSportsJournal.com
Tigers 3, Astros 2 – Jose Iglesias hustled down the first base line and beat out the throw that led to a Tigers win over the Houston Astros on Saturday night.
Iglesias, batting with two outs and the game tied 2-2 in the ninth inning, hit a dribbler to the first baseman, who tossed to the pitcher covering first. But Iglesias beat the pitcher to the bag allowing Tyler Collins to score the game-winning run.
James McCann also knocked in a run for the Tigers.
Detroit’s starting pitcher Justin Verlander picked up a complete game win, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out 11 batters.
The Astros were led by Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa with two hits apiece.
The Tigers now 56-48 on the season, good for second place in the American League Central Division behind the first-place Cleveland Indians. They are a game and a half games behind the Boston Red Sox for the final playoff spot.
Detroit will look for sweep the Astros with a win on Sunday afternoon.
Record: 56-48
Tied for 2nd Place in AL Central Division (4.5 games behind first-place Cleveland)
1.5 games behind Boston for last Wild Card spot
Magic # to clinch a playoff spot: 62
Magic # to clinch an AL Central Division title: 65
Next Game: 07/31/2016 vs. Houston Astros 1:10 p.m. @ Comerica Park
Hitting stats: James McCann RBI (27), Jose Iglesias RBI (25), Justin Upton SB (7).
Pitching stats: Justin Verlander W (11-6) 9 IP 5 H 2 R 2 ER 1 BB 11 K.