HOUSTON — It wasn’t supposed to go like this.
Justin Verlander, one of the best pitchers in baseball, was supposed to dominate the Detroit Tigers, one of the weakest lineups in baseball, in the first meeting between the ace right-hander and his former team.
And for one inning, it went that way. When Verlander struck out the side in the top of the first inning on Sunday afternoon at Minute Maid Park, it was thought to be a sign of more to come.
But in the next inning, the Tigers’ bats came alive. John Hicks, who hails from Verlander’s hometown of Goochland, Va., hit a two-run home run.
Hicks’ home run was a sign of more to come: Verlander would allow four home runs to the usually-powerless Tigers, tying a career-high, as they went into the All-Star break with a feel-good 6-3 win over the Astros.
Verlander would get his strikeouts – 12 of them – but the Tigers trumped them with four home runs, which resulted in Verlander allowing a season-high six runs.
In the fifth, Jeimer Candelario hit a solo shot. It marked his first home run and extra-base hit since June 29. In the sixth, Niko Goodrum took Verlander out to right field and then, Jim Adduci, who recorded the first hit of the game, took him out to left field.
Verlander had twice previously allowed four home runs in a game, both times against the Indians.
After Hicks’ home run in the second inning – which came in front of his older brother, who counts as one of Verlander’s best friends – Ronny Rodriguez slapped a sharp single up the middle. Verlander, ever aware of baserunners, threw wide of first base, allowing Rodriguez to move to third base. Candelario then drove him in with a sacrifice fly.
Verlander’s final line: Six innings, six hits, six runs (five earned), no walks, 12 strikeouts.
The Tigers’ bullpen kept the Astros in the check after left-hander Francisco Liriano left the game with lower back tightness after the third inning. Liriano allowed one run in three innings.
Drew VerHagen allowed one run in three innings and combined with Alex Wilson and Joe Jimenez to retire 13 consecutive Astros batters.
The Tigers head into the All-Star break at 41-57.
Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. Download our Tigers Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!
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