Tatsuya Imai turned in a dominant performance, tossing six shutout innings to earn his fifth win of the season as the Houston Astros defeated the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Thursday.
Imai, the Japanese right-hander, kept Tigers hitters off balance throughout the outing, allowing just four hits and no runs while striking out five. He limited Detroit's scoring threats and handed the ball to the bullpen with the lead intact.
Although the Astros' offense managed only limited run support, the combination of Imai's precision pitching and timely defense secured the win. The Tigers mounted a late comeback attempt, scoring once in the final frame, but fell short of completing the rally.
Imai's fifth victory of the season underscores his growing importance in the Astros' rotation.
