Pelfrey struggles with command as Tigers fall to Astros 1-0

HOUSTON (AP) — Mike Pelfrey wasn't sharp enough to help the Detroit Tigers to a win on Friday night.

Thankfully for a team with an already taxed bullpen he was able make it through six innings despite struggling when control all night.

"Not really how you draw it, but we will take it," manager Brad Ausmus said.

Dallas Keuchel pitched eight scoreless innings, Colby Rasmus provided the offense with an RBI single and the Houston Astros snapped a three-game skid with a 1-0 win over the Tigers.

Luke Gregerson pitched a perfect ninth to complete the shutout and earn his third save.

Pelfrey (0-2) allowed five hits, one run and tied a career-high with six walks in six innings for his second straight loss to start the season. He's had a tough time at Minute Maid Park, and fell to 0-3 in three career starts here.

"Regardless of (bullpen situation), I think you want to go as deep as possible," Pelfrey said. "You don't think if they need you or not. You want to get outs. I wasn't very efficient early on."

"I didn't know what was going to happen, but I knew I was going to keep battling, give everything I had."

Buck Farmer struck out three and didn't allow a hit in two innings for the Tigers on a night when three relievers weren't available. He was optioned to Triple-A Toledo after the game, but Ausmus said that his performance on Friday night caused some added discussion about the move.

"I don't think it will hurt him developmentally," Ausmus said of the move. "I think you will see him again up here sometime this year. That was the best I have seen him."

Rasmus gave Houston a 1-0 lead with an RBI single with one out in the first inning. Pelfrey's second walk of the inning loaded the bases after that, but he retired Evan Gattis and Carlos Gomez to limit the damage.

There was plenty of traffic on the bases for Houston thanks in large part to the many walks Pelfrey allowed. But the Astros were unable to add to their lead because the Tigers turned double plays to end the second, third and fifth innings.

"Our defense, I know it's not fun to play behind a guy when he's all over the place, walking guys and that stuff but they made some huge plays, some nice double plays," Pelfrey said.

Keuchel (2-1), who was last year's American League Cy Young winner, has won a franchise-record 17 straight regular season games at home. He hasn't lost in Houston since Aug. 10, 2014.

On Friday he allowed five hits and struck out four with one walk for his second win this season. He had much better command than he did in his last start when he tied a career-high with six walks in 5 2/3 innings in a loss at Milwaukee.

Keuchel had retired 11 straight before a single by J.D. Martinez with one out in the seventh inning. But he got right back on track as Nick Castellanos grounded into a force out that left Martinez out at second before he retired Jarrod Saltalamacchia to end the inning. He walked Jose Iglesias with one out in the eighth, but sat down Ian Kinsler and Justin Upton to finish his night.

"It's the late movement that makes him tough," Ausmus said. "We hit some balls well early off of him. Then, he settled in, and you didn't see a lot of hard contact after that. He's got the Cy Young award for a reason."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Tigers: Reliever Alex Wilson (shoulder) will come off disabled list on Saturday. Farmer was optioned to make room for him on the roster.

Astros: RHP Lance McCullers (right shoulder soreness) was scratched from his second rehabilitation start for Double-A Corpus Christi on Saturday because of soreness following his first start on Monday night. Manager A.J. Hinch said evaluate him daily and reschedule his start as soon as he feels better.

UP NEXT

Tigers: Justin Verlander (0-1, 8.71) looks to rebound on Saturday after yielding 10 hits and seven runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 7-4 loss to Pittsburgh.

Astros: Collin McHugh (1-1, 6.14) makes his third start on Saturday after bouncing back from the shortest start of his career by pitching seven scoreless innings in an 8-2 win over the Royals on Monday. That start came after he allowed six runs in one-third of an innings against the Yankees in his 2016 debut.