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Astros turn to McHugh against Tigers

May 22, 2015 - 2:57 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Collin McHugh goes after his sixth win of the season on Friday when the Houston Astros continue their four-game affair with the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

McHugh bounced back nicely from his first loss of the season on Sunday against Toronto, as he allowed a pair of runs in seven innings to get the win. He also struck out nine to run his record to 5-1, while lowering his ERA to 4.09.

"A really effective outing with all his pitches working at different times of the game," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "I was impressed with his perseverance through the traffic."

Detroit, meanwhile, will counter with righty Alfredo Simon, who is winless in his last four starts. Simon dropped his second straight decision on Sunday in St. Louis, despite a solid showing that saw him give up just two runs in six innings. However, he did walk four batters and fell to 4-2 to go along with a 3.04 ERA.

Simon has never started a game against the Astros, but has faced them four times out of the bullpen and is 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA.

Detroit got the better of the AL West-leading Astros in Thursday's opener, as James McCann hit his second career home run during the 11th inning to lift the Tigers to a 6-5 victory.

"I got a pitch up in the zone and got a pretty good swing on it," said McCann. "It's an amazing feeling, a feeling that I'll never forget."

Yoenis Cespedes reached base in all five plate appearances, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs and two walks for the Tigers, who have won their last two games. Miguel Cabrera also drove in his 1,400th run and Nick Castellanos hit a two- run homer.

Alex Wilson (1-0) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings of relief. Tigers starter David Price allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits with a season-high 12 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

Preston Tucker sent the game into extra innings with his first career homer in the ninth, while Evan Gattis hit an RBI triple for the Astros, who lost for only the second time in nine tries.

"I think that gives us some momentum going into tomorrow that we scored five runs after the seventh inning," said Tucker.

Detroit was 4-3 against the Astros last season.