Tigers demote starter Rick Porcello to AAA Toledo - MLB

The Tigers on Sunday made the decision to option struggling right-handed starter Rick Porcello to Triple-A Toledo, according to the club’s official Twitter feed.

Fellow Detroit starter Max Scherzer met the same fate in mid-May and that has certainly worked out well. The 25-year-old former Mizzou Tiger and Diamondback regained his confidence against the lesser competition found at the Triple-A ranks and has racked up 33 strikeouts in 24 innings since being called back to the majors.

The Tigers will hope that the younger Porcello can match that success, or at least come close.

Porcello, 21, was drafted 27th overall in the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft and posted a 3.96 ERA, a 1.34 WHIP and a 14-9 record in 2009, finishing third in the American League Rookie of the Year Award voting behind A’s closer Andrew Bailey and Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus. He was optioned to Toledo on Sunday with a 6.14 ERA, a 1.69 WHIP and a 4-7 win-loss record.

HOUSTON – Yordan Alvarez hit a go-ahead three-run double in the seventh inning, and the Houston Astros rallied past the Chicago White Sox 6-3 on Friday night for their first win of the season.

Kyle Tucker hit a two-run homer in the sixth and made a spectacular catch at the wall in the seventh to rob Andrew Benintendi of extra bases and keep the World Series champion Astros within one run.

Eloy Jimenez hit two RBI doubles for the White Sox, both off Astros starter Cristian Javier.

Jimenez’s first double scored Tim Anderson in the first inning. In the sixth, Javier gave up three straight doubles to Benintendi, Jimenez and Joan Moncada to make it 3-0 and end his night.

White Sox reliever Kendall Graveman (0-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh on two walks and a single. Jake Diekman came on and gave up Alvarez’s double to deep left-center, a drive that just eluded Luis Robert Jr. and bounced off the wall, clearing the bases.

Four Astros relievers each worked one scoreless inning. Seth Martinez (1-0) got the win and Rafael Montero handled the ninth for his first save.

Chicago starter Lance Lynn allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings.

ALL IN A DAY’S REST

White Sox INF Andrew Vaughn, who hit a go-ahead two-run double in Thursday’s season-opening win, did not play. Vaughn experienced lower back issues during spring training. Gavin Sheets started at first base.

HOMETOWN HIT

Astros outfielder Corey Yulks, a Houston-area native, singled in his first at-bat and finished 1-for-4 in his major league debut.

PUT A RING ON IT

Astros owner Jim Crane and his wife, Whitney, presented the team and staff with their 2022 World Series rings in a pregame ceremony.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Astros: LHP Blake Taylor, who is on the 15-day injured list with a left elbow strain, began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land.

UP NEXT

The four-game season-opening series continues Saturday when Houston’s Jose Urquidy faces Chicago’s Lucas Giolito.