DETROIT (Interstat) — Keider Montero pitched seven shutout innings and James Outman drove in three runs as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Houston Astros 8-0 on Friday night at Comerica Park.

Montero allowed five hits, struck out three and walked none in his second consecutive strong start. The right-hander lowered his ERA with a performance that included 15 strikes and 14 balls in play over 7 innings. He improved to 4-5 on the season, while Houston starter Spencer Arrighetti took the loss, falling to 7-4.

The Tigers broke the game open with a three-run third inning and a five-run fourth inning, scoring all their runs off Arrighetti and a subsequent reliever. Houston, which managed only five hits and grounded into two double plays, was shut out for the third time in its last 10 games.

Detroit took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third after James Outman drew a leadoff walk. Kevin McGonigle singled, and a throwing error by catcher Yainer Diaz on a strikeout of Dillon Dingler allowed Outman to score from third and McGonigle to advance to second. McGonigle then stole second, and Kerry Carpenter followed with a two-run homer to right field, his 11th of the season, making it 3-0.

The Tigers added five more runs in the fourth. Colt Keith led off with a solo homer to right, his fifth of the year. Zach McKinstry walked, and Matt Vierling singled, putting runners at the corners. Outman then crushed a three-run homer to right field, his second of the season, pushing the lead to 7-0. McGonigle walked, and Dingler singled to center to drive in McGonigle, capping the scoring at 8-0.

Carpenter finished 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Keith went 1-for-3 with a homer and an RBI. McGonigle was 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Outman was 1-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly-like production from his two-run homer. The Tigers grounded into two double plays but also capitalized on Houston’s miscues.

Arrighetti lasted only 3 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs on six hits and five walks with six strikeouts. The Astros bullpen, consisting of Nate Pearson, Bryan Abreu, and Jake Meyers, combined for 5 1/3 innings of one-hit relief, striking out four and walking none. Pearson tossed three innings, striking out one. Abreu worked a perfect eighth with one strikeout. Meyers pitched a scoreless ninth.

Houston’s best scoring chance came in the seventh inning when Jose Altuve singled and Yainer Diaz doubled to center, putting runners at second and third with two outs. But Cam Smith grounded out to shortstop to end the inning. Altuve finished 2-for-4 with two singles. Diaz went 1-for-3 with a double. The Astros also got a single from Isaac Paredes and a line-drive single from Jeremy Peña, who popped out and flew out in his other at-bats.

The game featured two double plays by each team. Houston hit into a double play in the second inning when Jose Altuve grounded into a 6-4-3 twin killing. In the fifth, Yainer Diaz grounded into another double play after a successful challenge by the Tigers overturned the call at first base. Detroit turned a double play in the fourth inning when Riley Greene grounded into a 3-6-3 double play, and another in the sixth when Dillon Dingler grounded into a 3-4-1 double play.

Attendance was announced at 30,036. The game lasted 2 hours, 31 minutes.

With the victory, Detroit improved to 35-47, while Houston fell to 40-44. The Tigers snapped a three-game losing streak and evened the four-game series at one win apiece after losing 2-1 to the Astros on Thursday. Houston had won four of its previous five games entering Friday.

Houston’s offense, which had averaged 4.7 runs over its last seven games, could not solve Montero or the Tigers’ bullpen. Enmanuel De Jesus followed Montero with two perfect innings, striking out two. The Tigers used two pitchers in total, with Montero and De Jesus combining for 14 strikes and 14 balls in play. Houston’s pitchers recorded 15 strikes, 32 balls, and 15 balls in play.

The series continues Saturday with the Astros sending a starter to be determined against Detroit’s scheduled pitcher. Houston returns home Monday to open a three-game set against the Minnesota Twins, while Detroit travels to New York for a three-game series against the Yankees starting Monday.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Houston 5, Detroit 4, and its ELO system gave Houston a 50.10 percent probability of winning. Detroit was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5 runs.