DETROIT -- Astros center fielder Taylor Trammell broke up a perfect game by Tigers starter Troy Melton with one out in the sixth inning Thursday night at Comerica Park. And he did so in grand fashion -- lining a 422-foot homer that stayed just inside the right-field foul pole -- while also providing the first run in a 2-1 Houston victory.
“It felt good on the swing,” said Trammell, who has homered in consecutive games after not having one in his first 30 games this season. “With a guy like him -- he’s a pitcher that knows what he’s doing and has great command of his pitches.
“I was making sure I could get something that I could handle and not expanding [the strike zone], because if you expand, he starts expanding. That’s why he’s having a really good year this year, and he showed it today as well. I just got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it. I wanted to be violent, but being under control was kind of the biggest thing.”
He watched the screamer hug the line, saying to himself, “Please be fair.” And his wish was granted.
Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai (5-3) brought a 6.15 ERA into the game, but he did a great job of matching Melton almost stride for stride. He walked Dillon Dingler in the first inning, but retired the next nine in order before Riley Greene got Detroit’s first hit with a single in the fourth.
“Really great pitching,” said Houston manager Joe Espada. “Great starters getting after it.”
The quick pace helped both pitchers find a great rhythm.
“It becomes a fight between those two guys,” said Espada. “It gets very competitive.”
Imai was brilliant over six innings, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out 10 -- one short of his total from his previous start against the Guardians. He had great command, throwing 63 of 96 pitches for strikes.
“That was a well-pitched game by Imai,” said Espada. “Twenty-one punchouts in his last two starts. His fastball and slider [combo] continues to get dirtier and dirtier. That [slider] is a tough pitch to hit. It does so many different things, and it blends so well with his fastball. It’s been tremendous.”
Imai said through interpreter Shio Enomoto: “I was able to pitch better than the last outing. Today, I was able to feel like I did in Japan, and that’s why I think I was able to perform like this. It’s how I stand on the mound when I set and wind up as well.
“The most important part is how my slider looks like a fastball, so they can swing and miss.”
Espada said he senses that his 28-year-old rookie from Kanuma, Japan, has finally adjusted to playing in the U.S.
“He’s starting to get comfortable -- knowing his stuff, knowing the league,” said Espada. “The information we’re sharing with him, he’s starting to get familiar with it. And that builds confidence. And right now he’s pitching with a ton of confidence.”
Imai concurred: “Yes, I’m really thankful to Joe and also the pitching coach [Josh Miller]. It took some time to get used to it, and get back the feel I had in Japan. But I really love the support and just try and perform and connect to the win for the team.”
Trammell had just one homer in 81 previous at-bats this season, but he sent this one out like a rocket, and it traveled a Statcast-projected 110.5 mph at a 25-degree launch angle. He got all of the 0-1 slider Melton hung over the middle of the plate.
Houston added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Jeremy Peña led off with a single, stole second and went to third on a grounder by Yordan Alvarez. Isaac Paredes scored Peña with a sacrifice fly that went plenty deep to center.
Espada said, “We prevailed because of Trammell’s homer, and we created that run -- the insurance run. … Good teams do little things, and we’re doing all the little things.”
The run came in handy, as Dingler homered with one out in the ninth and Greene singled before a double play ended the game, with Enyel De Los Santos getting the save.
In that “doing all the little things” mode, Trammell said he prepares for every game like he’s going to start, going over starting pitchers and studying. “Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” he noted.
Trammell (Trah-Mell) pronounces his last name different than Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame shortstop Alan Trammell (like camel), whose last name and retired No. 3 adorn the brick wall to the left of the flagpole in left-center at Comerica.
“Hey, it’s great having my name on the wall here,” Taylor Trammell joked before the game. “I love this place. The fans here ask me about Alan Trammell before games. … Yeah, my uncle [laughter]. They’ve got my uncle out in left field here, and so that’s pretty cool.”