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Wilson Ramos spanks 2 home runs in Detroit Tigers’ 2nd straight win, 8-2, in Houston

The Detroit Tigers’ Wilson Ramos swings for a home run during the ninth inning against the Astros on Tuesday in Houston. (AP photo)

HOUSTON — Wilson Ramos hit two home runs and Renato Nunez and rookie Akil Baddoo each homered for the second straight game as the Detroit Tigers slugged their way to an 8-2 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.

Ramos has stepped into the cleanup spot with Miguel Cabrera sidelined by a biceps injury, and his six homers lead the majors.

“Miggy is one of the leaders of this team and we need him back,” Ramos said. “But since he’s not here right now I have to take that spot he left. I’m very happy for what I’m doing right now. I don’t want to be Miggy’s bat, but I want to give support to my team.”

Baddoo, a Rule 5 pick, is off to a scorching start to his major league career with four homers in eight games. Nomar Mazara also homered to give the Tigers a season-high five long balls as they won their second straight following a four-game skid.

“We’ve made them come inside the strike zone,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “I think we’ve been selective and punished some mistakes when they’ve made mistakes.”

Detroit Tigers shortstop Willi Castro cannot reach an RBI single by the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 4 in Minneapolis. (AP file photo)

The Tigers spoiled the Astros debut of Jake Odorizzi (0-1), who got a late start to the season after signing on March 8. Detroit tagged him for seven hits and five runs, including three homers, in 3 1/3 innings to hand the Astros their fourth consecutive loss after a 6-1 start.

“This one’s on me,” Odorizzi said. “Anytime you give up multiple runs in a mid-game inning it’s usually a tough one to come back from.”

In his first visit to his former team, Hinch won the opening two games, securing the Tigers’ first series win against the Astros since July 28-30, 2017, and the first series win in Houston since May 2-5, 2013. Hinch was suspended for a year by MLB in January 2020 and subsequently fired by the Astros for his role in the team’s sign-stealing scandal before being hired by Detroit this offseason.

Detroit starter Matthew Boyd (2-1) yielded six hits and one run in 6 2/3 innings.

Yordan Alvarez and Yuli Gurriel hit consecutive singles with no outs in the second and Alvarez scored on a one-out single by Myles Straw that made it 1-0. But Boyd struck out Jason Castro and Jose Altuve to limit the damage.

Those strikeouts were the first of 10 batters in a row retired by Boyd. He allowed a single apiece in the fifth and sixth innings.

The Tigers tied it in the third with Baddoo’s full-count homer to the seats in left field.

Jeimer Candelario, who had two hits, doubled to open the fourth before Mazara’s homer with one out put the Tigers up 3-1.

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