Detroit Tigers fall to .500 for first time with 5-2 loss to Astros in new uniforms

It wasn't perfect, but Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize competed his way through six innings.

The leadoff hitter reached safely in five of his six innings, and Mize recorded just two strikeouts, but when he walked off the mound for the final time, the Tigers had the lead and were in position to win the game.

The Tigers, though, squandered Mize's effort in a 5-2 loss to the Houston Astros in Friday's opener of a three-game set at Comerica Park. The Tigers wore their City Connect uniforms for the first time in Friday's game, and they'll wear them again for Saturday's game.

The new "electric blue" threads didn't spark a better version of the Tigers.

NOT ON TIME: Tigers' Spencer Torkelson not a rookie anymore, but troubles now stem back to then

The Tigers (19-19), who finished 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, have lost six of seven games, falling to .500 for the first time this season.

Mize surrendered just one run on five hits and two walks with two strikeouts, throwing 88 pitches.

Left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin and right-handed reliever Jason Foley were responsible for allowing the other four runs in the eighth inning, with the first three runs charged to Chafin's tab.

A BIG HIT: After two years of waiting, Ryan Vilade finally gets first MLB hit with Tigers

The first three batters in the Astros' four-run eighth inning reached safely against Chafin: Jose Altuve singled, Kyle Tucker drew a walk and Yordan Alvarez also singled, tying the game at 2-2.

The fourth batter of the inning reached safely against Foley, when Jeremy Peña hit a second-pitch sinker — clocked at just 94.8 mph on the radar gun and located in the middle of the strike zone — for a single into center, making it 3-2.

The Astros extended their lead to 5-2 on Alex Bregman's fielder's choice and Yainer Diaz's sacrifice fly.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

Casey Mize competes

Mize walked the first two batters Friday, putting Altuve on base on seven pitches and Tucker on in five. But Mize bounced back by retiring the next three batters: Alvarez (pop out), Peña (strikeout) and Jon Singleton (groundout).

A similar situation took place in the second inning, when Mize gave up a leadoff double to Bregman but sent down the next three batters. He allowed a leadoff single to Peña in the fourth, then sent down the next three batters. In the fifth, Mize worked around a leadoff single from Victor Caratini.

JEFF SEIDEL: Dreaming of more Tigers offense? Justyn-Henry Malloy would be my answer in Toledo

The third inning was the only three up, three down of Mize's six-inning outing.

In the sixth, Tucker blasted a leadoff home run off Mize's second-pitch fastball. He located the 92.1 mph fastball up and in; Tucker — a left-handed hitter — turned on Mize's slowest fastball of the game for a 409-foot solo homer to right field. He torched the ball with a 106 mph exit velocity.

It was Tucker's 12th homer in 38 games this season.

Alvarez kept the pressure on Mize with an ensuing single, but Mize helped himself by fielding a grounder from Peña and starting a double play. After that, he sent down Singleton on a groundout to end his outing.

Mize, who owns a 3.58 ERA in seven starts, generated 10 whiffs on 45 swings — a 22.2% whiff rate — with five fastballs, four sliders and one curveball. His fastball averaged 95.5 mph.

Matt Vierling delivers

For the Astros, left-hander Framber Valdez allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts in seven innings.

The Tigers scored those two runs in the third inning.

CARLOS MONARREZ: Tigers failed first real test of 2024 season. But here's why hope is not lost

The inning featured three hits in a row, beginning with singles from Jake Rogers and Andy Ibáñez. Matt Vierling cashed in by sending Valdez's first-pitch curveball, a down-and-in offering, into left field.

Both runners scored for a 2-0 lead.

Mark Canha grounded out, moving Vierling to third base in the process, but Vierling was stranded at the hot corner when Riley Greene struck out swinging and Spencer Torkelson grounded out.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at freep.com/podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers drop to .500 with 5-2 loss to Houston Astros