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Tigers-Astros Preview

Jun 25, 2009 - 11:57 PM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Detroit (40-31) at Houston (32-37), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers have been hard to beat at home. After a particularly strong stretch in the Motor City, they hope that success begins to carry over to the road.

The Tigers look to ride the momentum from an undefeated homestand into a nine-game road trip as they open a three-game series against the Houston Astros on Friday night.

Detroit (41-31) has one of the best home records in the majors at 23-11 and has won eight in a row at Comerica Park. That streak includes a six-game homestand the Tigers capped with a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

Magglio Ordonez ended his career-high, 40-game home run drought with a go-ahead two-run shot in the fourth inning. It was his third homer of the year and first since April 27.

The six-time All-Star and 2007 AL batting champion was benched for almost a week before going hitless Tuesday in the series opener against the Cubs. He bounced back with three hits over the last two games.

"I know Magglio. I know what he can do," first baseman Miguel Cabrera said of his teammate and fellow Venezuelan. "I know how hard he works. I don't worry about him."

The Tigers would like to see Ordonez's success continue on the road, where they've dropped four of five to fall to 18-20 in 2009. Before a 6-3 win at St. Louis last Thursday, Detroit - averaging 4.9 runs per game overall - had been limited to three runs or fewer in seven straight away from home.

Like the Tigers, Verlander (8-3, 3.31 ERA) has been much more effective in Detroit. The right-hander is 4-0 with a major league-best 1.11 ERA in six starts at home, where opponents are batting .162 against him. In nine outings on the road, Verlander is 4-3 with a 4.87 ERA and a .274 opponents' batting average.

Verlander held Milwaukee to two runs and five hits while striking out eight in a 3-2 home win Sunday. He pitched eight scoreless innings in his only previous start against Houston (33-37) in 2006.

Lance Berkman homered twice and drove in four runs for the Astros in a 5-4 win over Kansas City on Thursday, but the team committed three errors less than 24 hours after an unearned run allowed the Royals to tie Wednesday night's game in the ninth inning en route to an 11th-inning victory.

"The defense has been terrible," said Berkman, who became the third player in franchise history to reach 1,000 RBIs. "Cost us the game last night and today it could have cost us the game. We've got to figure something out - a little more intensity, a little more concentration. You can't give teams extra outs and expect to win."

Wandy Rodriguez (6-6, 3.18) will take the mound for the Astros. Rodriguez had a 1.71 ERA through 10 starts but posted an 8.27 ERA while going 0-3 over his next four. He settled down Sunday and got back in the win column by holding Minnesota to one run and two hits while striking out eight in seven innings of a 4-1 victory.

Rodriguez was pitching with a sore back after being struck by a batted ball during batting practice, but he said it didn't affect his approach.

"He was terrific today," manager Cecil Cooper said. "It looked like he got stronger as the game went on. Today was a real positive outing for him. Hopefully we can build on this."

Rodriguez lost his only career game against Detroit in 2006, giving up seven runs in 6 2-3 innings.