KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Dwight Gooden made a strong first impression for the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Gooden, signed to a minor-league contract during the offseason, retired all six batters he faced as the Astros rallied from a three-run deficit to defeat the Detroit Tigers 5-4.

``I can't remember a spring doing that the first time out,'' Gooden said.

Gooden, 35, recorded three fly outs and three groundouts. The Astros are counting on Gooden this season to fill the No. 4 or 5 spot in the rotation while right-hander Scott Elarton continues his rehabilitation from rotator-cuff surgery.

``They are going to give me an opportunity to show I can do it,'' said Gooden, who went 3-4 with a 6.26 ERA for Cleveland during an injury-plagued 1999. ``At this stage, that's all I can ask for. I'm up for the challenge. At the same time, I'm not trying to do too much too early.''

Detroit took a 3-0 lead in the second inning off Astros right-hander Shane Reynolds. Dean Palmer doubled to lead off the inning and Juan Encarnacion followed with a two-run homer to center field. Five pitches later, Karim Garcia homered to right-center.

Tigers left-hander C.J. Nitkowski, who is projected to be in the starting rotation, held his former team to one hit over two innings. Reynolds allowed three runs, three hits and struck out three in two innings.

Trailing 3-1, the Astros scored three runs in the seventh off Ramon Tatis to take their first lead. The game was tied at 4 entering the bottom of the ninth when Tripp Cromer and Julio Lugo led off with singles and Matt Mieske later hit a two-out single to right field for the game-winner off losing pitcher Edgar Ramos.

Jeff Bagwell, Cromer and Lugo each had two hits for Houston.