(HOUSTON) – Justin Verlander was splendid against the Detroit Tigers, pitching a two-hitter and fanning 11 in another dominant performance for the Astros. Houston's offense wasn't nearly as sharp on Wednesday night, and it led to an unusual, tough-luck 2-1 loss. Ronny Rodriguez and John Hicks homered off Verlander, the only two baserunners he allowed. Hicks led off the ninth with a tiebreaking blast to left-center field off Verlander (15-5), who leads the majors in strikeouts with 239 but ranks second in homers allowed with 33. Verlander retired the first 14 batters, with six strikeouts, before Rodriguez homered to the seats in right with two outs in the fifth. The veteran right-hander sat down another 10 straight before Hicks connected. He threw 99 pitches and extended his franchise record of games with 10 or more strikeouts to seven as he lost for the first time since June 18. Robinson Chirino belted his 14th homer to left-center on Tyler Alexander's first pitch of the seventh to tie it at 1. Starter Daniel Norris allowed two hits in three innings for Detroit. Alexander worked four innings, Buck Farmer (5-4) walked one in a scoreless eighth and Joe Jimenez finished the Tigers' six-hitter for his fourth save.