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DETROIT -- Batting leadoff because of an injury to Austin Jackson, Detroits Andy Dirks hit a drive to centre field for a double in his first at-bat. Three innings later, the 27-year-old outfielder made an even better impression. Dirks hit his first career grand slam, part of a six-run fourth for the Tigers in their 7-2 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night. He was at the top of the lineup because Jackson went on the disabled list earlier in the day with a pulled left hamstring. "Ive hit leadoff in college and Ive hit leadoff in the big leagues and in the minor leagues," Dirks said. "Its really nothing different. The way I approach it, I just try to get on base for the big guys." In the fourth, Dirks came to the plate in a good RBI situation -- bases loaded and one out. He drove an 0-2 pitch to right field for his fourth homer of the year. Houston starter Bud Norris said it was a hanging slider. "It was the worst 0-2 pitch of my career," he lamented. The pitch looked just fine to Dirks. "I liked it," he said. "Its just one of those things in baseball. He didnt mean to leave a pitch over the plate like that, and I was fortunate enough to be on time with it and hit it." Victor Martinez also homered for the Tigers, who swept four straight from the Astros in Houston earlier this month and opened this three-game series at Comerica Park with another convincing victory. Anibal Sanchez (4-3) allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings for Detroit. He struck out eight with one walk. "I feel good," Sanchez said. "My pitches were working good today. I just had a bad inning. Thats part of the game." Houston scored two runs off Sanchez in the third, shortly after Astros second baseman Jose Altuve left the game with a jaw injury following a collision with right fielder Jimmy Paredes on a popup. Norris (4-4) left with lower back spasms after allowing seven runs and nine hits in five innings. "Altuve came out for precautionary reasons, and hes already told me that hes playing tomorrow," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "Norris wanted to stay out there, but well see how he feels in the next day or two. Thats always the question when it comes to back injuries." Houston has lost five straight and 15 of 18. Detroit trailed 2-1 when Martinez hit a two-run homer in the fourth to give the Tigers the lead. They werent done. Jhonny Peralta and Don Kelly both singled with one out, and after a walk to Omar Infante, Dirks hit his home run. Dirks finished with three hits. Torii Hunters double in the first scored Dirks to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Altuve left the game after colliding with Paredes, but Houston scored a couple of runs in the third to take the lead. Marwin Gonzalez singled and stole second, then scored on a single by Robbie Grossman. Ronny Cedeno, who came into the game when Altuve left, added an RBI groundout. But Norris, who has pitched well so far amid Houstons struggles, couldnt hold onto the lead, and his start was cut short by back problems. He left the game after a conference at the mound at the start of the Detroit sixth. Martinezs homer was his second of the year after he missed all of 2012 with a knee injury. The Tigers have outscored Houston 44-10 in five games this year. NOTES: Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera had his hitting streak snapped at 11 games. ... Tigers RHP Doug Fister (4-1) takes the mound Tuesday night against Houston RHP Lucas Harrell (3-3). Wholesale Cardinals Jerseys . "It doesnt get any better than that," Giambi said. "Im speechless." The Indians are roaring toward October. Giambi belted a two-run, pinch-hit homer with two outs in the ninth inning to give Cleveland a shocking 5-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, keeping the Indians up with the lead pack in the AL wild-card race. Matt Carpenter Jersey . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. http://www.cheapstlouiscardinalsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-roger-maris-jersey .1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. Willie McGee Jersey . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Yadier Molina Jersey . Isner, ranked No. 14, won his eighth career singles title and took the title in New Zealand for the second time after his victory in 2010. The match was similar to Isners quarterfinal victory over fifth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber which went to three sets, all tiebreaks and contained no breaks of serve. Claire Williams says Lance Strolls career so far proves he truly deserves to drive for her team in 2017.On Thursday Williams unveiled 18-year-old Stroll and Valtteri Bottas as its line-up for next year, with the youngster replacing the retiring Felipe Massa. Strolls elevation comes after his dominant championship in European Formula 3 with Prema and will make him the youngest driver on the 2017 grid.Williams is excited to see how the Canadian fares in his rookie season.[Lance] has proven his credentials, he deserves this seat in F1 next year, she said. As a team we are notorious for bringing in young talent to F1 and I am really excited to see what Lance can do for the team. This year alone he has annihilated the F3 championship, he has won 14 of the 30 races, so nearly 50% of races he has won.Prior to that he was champion in the Toyota race series in New Zealand and the F4 championship as well. He truly deserves this seat and II am really excited to see what he can do next year.ddddddddddddWilliams says Stroll fits in perfectly to the ethos of the Williams team, responsible for starting the careers of Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg.?We are a team with clear ambitions in this sport, were celebrating 40 years next year, 40 years of great success, we are the third most successful team in F1, we have won 16 world championships, but we have clear ambitions for the future, and if we are to achieve those ambitions, we need great talent.For Lance, and us, its exciting. Hes done such a great job in the F3 championship this year and hes the full package for us. When were looking to choose a race driver, he has everything. He has the talent, he is intelligent, gives great feedback to the engineers so for us, it was an easy decision. ' ' '