Collins, Upton hit 3-run homers as Tigers beat Astros 14

Houston is just 23-27 on the road but returns home for seven straight on Monday, welcoming two more potential playoff teams in the Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers.TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Houston), FSN DetroitPITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (6-10, 4.57 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Mike Pelfrey (3-9, 4.98)Keuchel is turning his season around with seven straight quality starts and is closing out a terrific July in which he owns a 2.33 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP.

Upton and James McCann also homered, while Maybin had three hits and scored three times for the Tigers, who were coming off a three-game sweep at Fenway Park.

Detroit Tigers’ Cameron Maybin celebrates after scoring a run in the sixth inning after Astros second baseman Jose Altuve dropped a pop fly off the bat of Miguel Cabrera in shallow right field with two outs, in a baseball game…

Matt Boyd (2-2) struck out George Springer to start the game, but Marwin Gonzalez doubled and Jose Altuve lined his 18th homer into the right-field stands.

Boyd settled down after the first, allowing just two hits over the next four innings.

The Tigers haven taken advantage of series against the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros (two teams separating them from a wild card spot) and have brought themselves within striking distance of the postseason with just two days remaining until the trade deadline. Keuchel has won his last three starts against the Tigers, including throwing eight scoreless innings in Houston on April 15. He allowed eight runs on 10 hits while only retiring five batters. “We got the quick 2-0 lead, and then we’re down seven after the second”. “I was all over the place in the first two innings, but I ironed out the issues and got things fixed”. Detroit 3B Nick Castellanos said he knows how frustrated Tigers fans feel. That saved a run when Collins followed with a single, and Fiers got out of the inning.

Harris’ blown save came after Houston scored twice in the top of the ninth inning against starter Justin Verlander for a 2-1 lead. “I felt like I made some really good pitches, but they put them in play and got hits out of them”. “That wasn’t how I envisioned this game going”. Chris Devenski then entered the game and promptly gave up a three-run bomb to Tyler Collins. Cabrera knocked home Maybin to extend the Tigers’ lead to three runs.

“It’s pretty sore right now”, Gonzalez said before the game.

In other injury news, Astros center fielder Carlos Gomez remains day-to-day with a right hamstring strain. He’s expected to miss the entire weekend series in Detroit. Ausmus is hoping to have both of them back within a week. Fister pitched for the Tigers from 2011-13.