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'Frustrating': Verlander can't hold lead, Tigers fall

Houston — Frustrated. Disappointed. Mystifyied.

All those words describe the Tigers’ feelings after their 7-6 loss in the series finale against the Houston Astros on Thursday night.

“It is frustrating,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “You feel good with a 3-0 lead and Justin Verlander on the mound. But this is baseball and nothing is given.”

The Tigers survived a most uncharacteristic, five-run blow-up by Verlander in the fourth inning, rallying behind some clutch hitting by Justin Upton (three RBIs including a line-drive solo home run in the seventh) and Jose Iglesias (two RBI-doubles, including one that tied the score 6-6 in the top of the eighth).