DETROIT — Preston Tucker and the Houston Astros got to enjoy his first career home run for a short time, anyway.
Tucker connected for pinch-hit, solo shot in the ninth inning that tied it, but the Detroit Tigers beat the Astros 6-5 Thursday on James McCann's homer in the 11th.
Houston trailed 5-0 after six innings. Tucker homered with one out, giving Joakim Soria his first blown save in 14 attempts this season.
"That was great," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "To see a kid come off the bench and get his first homer in a huge spot to tie the game against a closer who is having a great year."
McCann led off the 11th by hitting Tony Sipp's 0-2 splitter into the Tigers bullpen, just beyond the reach of leaping left fielder Colby Rasmus.
"I tried to bounce a pitch that McCann would chase, and I just left it up," Sipp said.
Alex Wilson (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win.
Detroit led 5-0 after six innings.
Astros reliever Josh Fields got the first out in the bottom of the ninth, but had to leave the game after Anthony Gose's liner hit him on the right knee. Will Harris came in to strike out Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera to send the game to extra innings.
Tigers starter David Price allowed three runs — two earned — while striking out 12 in 6 2-3 innings.
Houston starter Scott Feldman gave up five runs on 10 hits and a walk in six innings.
Nick Castellanos, who drove in four runs in Wednesday night's win over the Brewers, hit a two-run homer in the fourth.
In the fifth, the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs on two singles and an error before Kinsler grounded into an RBI forceout. Cabrera singled home a run for a 4-0 lead.
Rajai Davis' double made it 5-0 in the sixth.
Evan Gattis drove in a run in the seventh with the second triple of his three-season career. Jonathan Villar singled home a run and Hank Conger chased Price with another RBI single.
George Springer's double off Joba Chamberlain made it 5-4 in the eighth, and he was able to take third on Davis' error in right field. But Gattis grounded out and Chris Carter lined out.
"That was a big, big comeback by our guys," Hinch said. "This is a tough one to lose, just because of how we did come back."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: X-rays of Fields' knee showed no damage, and he is day-to-day with bruising. ... RHP Samuel Deduno was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday with a back strain, but the Astros are encouraged by MRI results this week. Instead of a lengthy stay on the DL, Deduno has been able to continue soft tossing, and is expected to throw a bullpen session during Houston's weekend series in Detroit.
UP NEXT
The Astros and Tigers return to action on Friday night, with Alfredo Simon (4-2, 3.04) and his 55-mph soap-bubble pitch facing Houston's Collin McHugh (5-1, 4.09). McHugh, who has won 12 of his last 13 decisions, will be facing the Tigers for the first time.
