The two-out blast, Inge's second hit of the game, erased a 3-2 deficit, helped Detroit avert a three-game sweep. The Tigers have homered in 12 consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 4-17, 1999.
Curtis Granderson had three hits and one RBI, while Gerald Laird had a fourth-inning RBI for the Tigers, who had won seven in a row before the series started Friday.
Winner Bobby Seay (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth, and closer Fernando Rodney worked around a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth to earn his 17th save this season.
Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence and Kazuo Matsui each drove in a run for the Astros, whose three-game winning streak ended.
Closer Jose Valverde (0-2) retired the first two batters he faced in the top of the ninth but then issued a walk to Marcus Thames ahead of Inge's game-winning homer.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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