Tigers 4, Astros 3: Alex Avila hit a go-ahead two-run homer with one out in the top of the ninth inning as Detroit rallied for its seventh win in eight games.

Two batters after Don Kelly led off with a walk, Avila slugged a 3-1 offering from Houston closer Jose Veras (0-2) over the wall in center for his fourth home run. Jose Valverde worked around a one-out walk in the bottom half to collect his third save in as many chances as the Tigers sent Houston to its fourth straight loss.

Drew Smyly (2-0) got the win by working two scoreless innings in relief of starter Doug Fister, who gave up three runs (two earned) on a season-high nine hits in six-plus innings.

Astros starter Bud Norris was in line for the win after he allowed two runs in seven innings and saw his team score three times against Fister to take a 3-2 lead in the seventh. Robbie Grossman forged a 2-2 tie with an opposite-field RBI single and Jose Altuve knocked in the go-ahead run with an infield hit that bounced off second base.

However, Veras, who entered with 6 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings, walked Kelly on a 3-2 pitch. Jhonny Peralta, who started the scoring with an RBI single in the second, flied out to left before Avila crushed a sinker that stayed up.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Astros are 0-15 in games in which their opponent scores first. ... Fister failed to finish seven innings for the first time in his last five outings. The Tigers combined for six strikeouts, snapping the staff's streak of seven straight games with at least 10, an American League record. ... Victor Martinez also had an RBI single for Detroit.