HOUSTON -- Raynel Delgado, making his second career start, stroked a two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded in the eighth inning to send the Astros to a 4-2 win over the Tigers on the night that starting pitcher Hunter Brown made his return from the injured list.
The Astros, trailing 2-1, rallied in the eighth on a single by Yainer Diaz, an error by third baseman Kevin McGonigle and a pinch-hit walk by Joey Loperfido to load the bases. Delgado, acquired in a trade last week from the Rays, hit reliever Will Vest’s first pitch for his first two career RBIs. Jeremy Peña beat out a potential double play ball to score Loperfido to make it 4-2.
Brown, making his first start since March 31 (shoulder sprain), held the Tigers to one run, three hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out seven batters. He began the sixth at 75 pitches and was pulled after issuing a two-out walk to Kerry Carpenter. Brown got a nice ovation from the crowd while walking off the mound.
The Tigers took advantage of a leadoff walk to Spencer Torkelson in the second to score their only run against Brown. Torkelson scored from third on a single by Hao-Yu Lee that caromed off the glove of Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña.
Brown is coming off the best season of his four-year career, which earned him a third-place finish in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2025. He went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA and a career-low WHIP of 1.03 in 31 starts. He struck out a career-high 206 batters in 185 1/3 innings and allowed only 133 hits, becoming a constant in a rotation rocked by injuries.