DETROIT (AP) -- Lance McCullers got Ian Kinsler to ground into a triple play in the fifth inning, and the Houston right-hander went on to earn his first career victory Saturday, leading the Astros over the Detroit Tigers 3-2.Detroit led 2-1 in the fifth and had runners on first and second when Kinsler hit a grounder to third. Jonathan Villar stepped on the bag and threw to second, where Jose Altuve relayed the ball to first.It was Houston's first triple play since 2004, and the Astros followed that up by scoring two runs in the sixth to go ahead.McCullers (1-0) allowed two runs and six hits with six strikeouts over six innings in his second career start. 
The Houston bullpen did not allow a baserunner. Luke Gregerson pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances.Kyle Lobstein (3-5) gave up three runs in 5 2-3 innings.The triple play was a highlight of what was generally a sloppy game.McCullers threw a wild pitch during an intentional walk in the third, and it looked like Houston's defense might cost the Astros the game in the fifth. After James McCann led off with a double, Jose Iglesias reached on an infield single when McCullers failed to cover first on a grounder to the right side.Anthony Gose followed with a grounder to second that looked like a potential double play - but Jose Altuve threw wildly to second for an error. McCann scored to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.But with Miguel Cabrera looming on deck, Kinsler hit his grounder to third, and McCullers was suddenly out of the inning.Houston's most recent triple play had been Aug. 19, 2004. That one also went 5-4-3 on a grounder by Philadelphia's Todd Pratt.Altuve opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third, then Detroit answered in the bottom half on Gose's RBI double to center. Gose appeared convinced he'd hit a home run, jogging to first and then speeding up after the ball hit the wall. He ended up with a double.Had he been on third, he might have been able to score on Kinsler's lineout to center, but instead, Detroit had to settle for one run that inning.After the triple play, the AL West-leading Astros went ahead in the sixth when Preston Tucker, Chris Carter, Jason Castro and Marwin Gonzalez hit consecutive two-out singles.Detroit's Rajai Davis made a bid to tie it in the eighth as a pinch-hitter, sending a drive to left that a leaping Colby Rasmus caught at the fence. Rasmus had just entered as a defensive replacement.
The Houston bullpen did not allow a baserunner. Luke Gregerson pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 12 chances.Kyle Lobstein (3-5) gave up three runs in 5 2-3 innings.The triple play was a highlight of what was generally a sloppy game.McCullers threw a wild pitch during an intentional walk in the third, and it looked like Houston's defense might cost the Astros the game in the fifth. After James McCann led off with a double, Jose Iglesias reached on an infield single when McCullers failed to cover first on a grounder to the right side.Anthony Gose followed with a grounder to second that looked like a potential double play - but Jose Altuve threw wildly to second for an error. McCann scored to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.But with Miguel Cabrera looming on deck, Kinsler hit his grounder to third, and McCullers was suddenly out of the inning.Houston's most recent triple play had been Aug. 19, 2004. That one also went 5-4-3 on a grounder by Philadelphia's Todd Pratt.Altuve opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the third, then Detroit answered in the bottom half on Gose's RBI double to center. Gose appeared convinced he'd hit a home run, jogging to first and then speeding up after the ball hit the wall. He ended up with a double.Had he been on third, he might have been able to score on Kinsler's lineout to center, but instead, Detroit had to settle for one run that inning.After the triple play, the AL West-leading Astros went ahead in the sixth when Preston Tucker, Chris Carter, Jason Castro and Marwin Gonzalez hit consecutive two-out singles.Detroit's Rajai Davis made a bid to tie it in the eighth as a pinch-hitter, sending a drive to left that a leaping Colby Rasmus caught at the fence. Rasmus had just entered as a defensive replacement.
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