DETROIT -- Lance McCullers got an unusual boost to help him collect his first major-league victory.

The Houston Astros turned their first triple play in 11 seasons and edged the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Saturday at Comerica Park.

The Astros were trailing 2-1 when they pulled off the fifth-inning, around-the-horn triple play and used that momentum to score two sixth-inning runs.

The 21-year-old McCullers (1-0), who allowed two runs and six hits and struck out six in six innings, had a simple reaction as his infielders pulled off the feat.

"Thank you," said McCullers, who got a no-decision in his major-league debut against Oakland on Monday. "It was a tough jam there. You don't see that very often, but the defense made a great play. It's my first one (as a professional) and it was a good time for it."

McCullers' hair and face were still embedded with shaving cream and other items after his teammates gave him a traditional ceremony after his first victory. He pitched six games for Double-A Corpus Christi this season before getting called up.

"Just special," said McCullers, son of the former major-league pitcher with the same name. "I'm just glad we got the team win after two losses in a row. It's great to win a close one."

Houston's last triple play came on Aug. 19, 2004, at Philadelphia. Third baseman Jonathan Villar started this one after Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler's sharp grounder with runners at first and second. He stepped on the bag and fired the ball to second baseman Jose Altuve, who tossed it to first baseman Chris Carter to complete the play.

"Most of the time, the third baseman just goes to first," said Altuve, who made a throwing error on the previous play. "He took a chance and we made it. I saw him turning toward second base and I said, 'Ah, we got it.'

"He gave me a good throw and I just threw it hard to first base. It was really good for the team, really good for the moment and I think we won the game because of that play."

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus disagreed.

"You don't see triple plays very often, but I don't think that was the turning point of the game," he said. "I still felt good about our chances to win the game."

McCullers finished his 100-pitch performance by striking out two batters in the sixth.

"He throws mid-90s and he's got a good, hard curveball," Ausmus said. "A power arm with power stuff. Usually with a guy you don't know very well, it's the second and third time through the lineup that you have more success."

Luke Gregerson pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.

Shortstop Marwin Gonzalez led the Houston offense with two hits, a run scored and an RBI.

Carter also had two hits and scored a run for the American League West-leading Astros (28-16), who lost the first two games of the four-game series.

Center fielder Anthony Gose drove in both runs for the Tigers.

Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a first-inning single.

Losing pitcher Kyle Lobstein (3-5) allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Tigers moved ahead 2-1 in the fifth before the triple play.

Catcher James McCann led off with a double and advanced on an infield hit by shortstop Jose Iglesias when McCullers failed to cover first base. McCann scored on Gose's fielder's-choice grounder and Altuve's throwing error put runners at first and second before Kinsler's momentum-shifting ground ball.

Houston then rallied with two out in the sixth to take the lead. Three consecutive singles -- the last by catcher Jason Castro to bring home a run -- knocked out Lobstein.

Gonzalez greeted reliever Al Alburquerque with another single to make it 3-2.

Houston's relief corps retired all nine batters it faced to finish it off.

NOTES: Tigers SS Jose Iglesias exited the game in the fifth because of a left knee contusion. He was injured when he made knee-to-knee contact with Astros 1B Chris Carter while beating out an infield single in the third. ... The Astros have used 41 different lineups this season. "Generally, I'm using guys in situations they're very familiar with," manager A.J. Hinch said. "That's more important to me than the exact lineup. There's relative consistency, even though it looks different on a daily basis." ... Tigers RHP Alfredo Simon, who won Friday night's game, has an American League-best 0.94 ERA in four home starts. ... Astros RHP Samuel Deduno, who went on the 15-day disabled list on Monday because of a lower back strain, threw a bullpen session on Saturday and felt no pain.