DETROIT -- Even when hes behind in the count, Victor Martinez is a tough hitter to face these days. "You cant set Victor Martinez up -- hes just too good at getting the barrel to the ball," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "I dont think it matters what pitch you throw, hes generally going to find a way to do it." Martinez hit a solo homer in sixth inning and Miguel Cabrera also went deep for the Tigers, who won their eighth straight game Wednesday night, 3-2 over the Houston Astros. Martinezs homer came on an 0-2 pitch, when Astros starter Brad Peacock tried to throw a high fastball past the designated hitter. "I have no idea how Victor Martinez even hit that pitch," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "That was up in his eyes and, he not only got a bat on it, he knocked it out of the park." Martinez extended his hitting streak to 10 games, and Rick Porcello (5-1) allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2-3 innings for the surging Tigers, who remained five games ahead of the second-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. Porcello struck out five and walked two. Even Detroits maligned bullpen looked impressive Wednesday. Joba Chamberlain got four outs in relief, striking out the side in the eighth. Joe Nathan pitched the ninth for his seventh save in nine chances. He struck out two, getting Matt Dominguez swinging with a man on third to preserve the win. Houston has lost five straight and seven of eight. Peacock (0-3) allowed three runs and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. He struck out four and walked four. After a slow start, Cabrera is again swinging the bat with authority for the Tigers. After homering in a four-hit, four-RBI performance Tuesday night, he stepped to the plate with a man on Wednesday and lifted a drive to deep right. Houstons George Springer tried valiantly to make the catch at the wall, but the ball nicked off his glove and went over, and the outfielder fell to the ground. It was Cabreras fourth homer of the year. Porcello allowed a run in the third when Marwin Gonzalez doubled and eventually scored on Dexter Fowlers groundout, but the Detroit infield turned double plays in the fifth and sixth to help the 25-year-old right-hander. In the fifth, Gonzalez was on first and took off toward second when Jose Altuve hit a grounder up the middle. Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler, in the area because of the steal attempt, simply picked up the ball, stepped on the bag and threw to first for the double play. Martinez homered to right to make it 3-1. It was his sixth home run of the season, and hes now hitting .318 with only five strikeouts all year. With two strikes on him, Martinez was ready for a fastball. "I was looking high fastball," Martinez said. "As soon as I saw it, I was making sure that I get on top." Houston answered with a run in the seventh, chasing Porcello. Marc Krauss hit a two-out double, Dominguez followed with a single, and Gonzalez singled to drive in Krauss. Chamberlain came on and retired Altuve with men on first and second to end that threat. The big reliever then struck out three in the eighth. "Brad was the first one on the stairs and said, You got the eighth," Chamberlain said. "I figured after we got out of the (seventh) that was going to be the case. Just prepare, look up and see whos going to be coming up for their lineup, and kind of a mental plan of what you want to do. It worked out." Nathan entered in the ninth and allowed a two-out walk to Krauss. Pinch-runner Jonathan Villar stole second and third, but Dominguez went down swinging to end it. NOTES: The game started after a 9-minute rain delay, and the wet weather persisted during the early innings. ... Detroits Torii Hunter had his hitting streak snapped at 13 games. ... Peacock has gone eight straight starts -- dating to last season -- without allowing more than three earned runs. ... Springer struck out three times. ... Detroits Drew Smyly (2-1) faces Houstons Dallas Keuchel (2-2) on Thursday in a matchup of former college teammates at Arkansas. Reshad Jones Womens Jersey . -- Orleans Darkwa ran in from 1 yard with 1:45 left, and the Miami Dolphins rallied from two scores down in the final minutes to beat the Dallas Cowboys 25-20 on Saturday night. Cameron Wake Womens Jersey . According to TSN Edmonton reporter Ryan Rishaug, agent Rick Valette met with Oilers senior VP of hockey operations Scott Howson and general manager Craig MacTavish on Monday to kick off the talks. http://www.authenticdolphinspro.com/Jason-taylor-dolphins-jersey/ . The injury could land Machado on the 15-day disabled list, but its not as serious as it looked on Monday night, when the third baseman crumpled in a heap at the plate after taking an awkward swing in a game against the New York Yankees. Minkah Fitzpatrick Jersey . The lightning strike was in the parking lot of Crew Stadium on Saturday night, but its not known if the off-duty lieutenant was struck directly, Columbus Fire Department Battalion Chief Tracy Smith said. The firefighter, identified as Lt. Nat Moore Youth Jersey . -- The Florida Gators are first yet again this season. CLEVELAND -- A trip to Progressive Field last month began a downward spiral for the Detroit Tigers. Their return visit could signal the start of a significant reversal. Max Scherzer pitched six strong innings, Miguel Cabrera homered and drove in three runs, and the Tigers beat the Cleveland Indians 10-4 on Sunday for a three-game sweep. The Tigers, swept in a three-game series at Cleveland in May, have won four in a row overall and reclaimed first place in the AL Central. "Were playing good baseball right now," Scherzer said. "If we play good baseball and do the little things right, were as good as any team in the American League. Thats what we did this series." The first trip to Cleveland began a 9-20 tailspin that dropped the Tigers out of first place for the first time this season. Manager Brad Ausmus is pleased his team finally seems to be out of its funk. "We played well here," he said. "Were playing better, obviously, but Im not going to make any declarations that anything is starting or finishing." Scherzer (9-3) bounced back from one of the worst outings of his career. The reigning AL Cy Young winner allowed 10 runs in four innings against Kansas City on Tuesday. Scherzer gave up one run and six hits, striking out eight. He was struck in the side of the right leg by Lonnie Chisenhalls line drive in the sixth, but recovered to throw him out and completed the inning. "That one hurt," Scherzer said. "He hit it good. My leg is planted into the ground, so it has no give. I wore the whole thing." Ausmus and a team trainer checked on Scherzer, who quickly indicated he wanted to remain in the game. Nick Swisher doubled, but David Murphy grounded out and Scherzer pumped his fist as he headed to the dugout. "His velocity actually went up after that," Ausmus said. Cabrera hit his 13th homer in the first, added an RBI single in the third and drove in a run with a grounder in the fifth when Detroit scored seven times. Josh Tomlin (4-5) allowed eight runs in four-plus innings. He faced six hitters in the fifth and all reached base. Cabrera, whose RBI double in the 10th inning Saturday gave Detroit a 5-4 win, lined a full-count pitch to right after Tomlin retired the first two batters in the firstt.dddddddddddd The Tigers took advantage of errors by shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and centre fielder Michael Bourn in taking a 9-0 lead in the fifth. "Against any team, if you give them extra opportunities, theres a decent chance you pay for it," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "They just blew it open and we helped them. They dont need the help." Singles by Ian Kinsler and Austin Jackson placed runners at the corners. Cabreras grounder scored a run -- the call of an apparent force play at second was overturned when a replay review requested by Ausmus showed the shortstop dropped the throw from Jason Kipnis before completing the out on Jackson. Bourn charged in for Victor Martinezs line drive but dropped the ball, loading the bases. J.D. Martinez, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, doubled to right before Nick Castellanos doubled to left for a 7-0 lead. Austin Romine added an RBI single off Kyle Crockett. J.D Martinez is batting .447 with four homers, five doubles and 11 RBIs in his hitting streak. Even though Torii Hunter is expected to return Tuesday in Texas after missing six games with a strained right hamstring, Martinez will remain in the lineup. "I dont see how I can take him out unless he tells he doesnt want to play or cant play," Ausmus said. Michael Brantley drove in three runs for Cleveland with an RBI double in the fifth and a two-run double in the ninth. NOTES: Cleveland has lost four of five at home since winning 10 straight at Progressive Field. ... Tomlin, who has lost three straight starts, has allowed a team-high 10 homers in 55 1-3 innings. ... The Indians committed three errors, bringing their season total to a major league-high 67. Cabrera leads the team with 14. ... ... Indians RHPs Justin Masterson and Corey Kluber have been taking batting practice and running the bases to get ready for interleague series at Arizona that begins Tuesday. ... Tigers LHP Patrick McCoy, called up from Triple-A Toledo following Saturdays game, made his major league debut and pitched a scoreless eighth. He replaced LHP Ian Krol, who has a sore shoulder, on the roster. ... Detroit RHP Chad Smith also made his first major league appearance and allowed three runs in the ninth. ' ' '