Quick hits

• Former Tigers reliever Darin Downs, just called up by the Astros on Sunday, said he got the offseason call that Houston had claimed him on waivers while he was driving his pregnant wife to the hospital. She gave birth to their second child, a son, the next day.

• Victor Martinez said he was not aware of his streak of games without a called third strike before he took a Jarred Cosart cutter for his first strikeout looking since last May 21.

"I wish I knew," Martinez said. "I would've swung."

• The Tigers took early work prior to batting practice Tuesday afternoon to have their pitchers and infielders work on pickoff plays in an organized drill. It was unclear what, if anything, prompted the refresher course after catcher Alex Avila threw out three would-be basestealers Monday night.