After an eventful day off where the Astros acquired three bats to add to their lineup, skipper Joe Espada’s group traveled to Boston for a three-game set against the Red Sox. Game one was on Friday, and the Astros fell 2-1 in the 10th off a walkoff single by Roman Anthony. The loss dropped Houston’s record to 62-48.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Houston threatened to score as early as the first inning. Jeremy Pena led off with a single into center field, but Jose Altuve hit into a groundout double play to Boston shortstop, Trevor Story. Then, newly acquired Jesus Sanchez singled. Sanchez reached second base on a pickoff error and was aggressive, attempting to reach third. The former Miami Marlin was called out to end the top half of the opening frame.
Hunter Brown was the starting pitcher for the Astros and allowed a few hits through the first handful of innings. Alex Bregman singled in the first and third with Roman Anthony recording the other. Brown also struck out a trio of Red Sox batters through the first three innings.
The Astros took the lead at the top of the second when Christian Walker hit a two-out solo home run 389 feet over the Green Monster. The bats proceeded to go cold for Houston over the next three innings.
Brown continued to hold off Boston’s offense, not allowing another hit until the sixth inning when Jalen Duran doubled into center field with two outs. In that time, Brown punched out three more Sox players to help Houston hold the one-run advantage.
Boston tied the game at the bottom of the seventh. Trevor Story drew a leadoff walk and stole second before Masataka Yoshida was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second base. Carlos Narvaez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advantage both runners, putting each in scoring position. Wilyer Abreu then hit a sacrifice fly into left field to score Story and even the game at one apiece.
Both teams decided to pull their starters to begin the eighth inning. Boston went from Cooper Criswell to Garrett Whitlock. On the other side, Brown was replaced by Bryan Abreu. Criswell finished with seven hits, one run, two walks, and four strikeouts. Brown’s final tally was four hits, one run, one walk, and six punch-outs. Neither allowed a hit, and kept the game tied heading into the ninth.
Aroldis Chapman closed out for Boston, striking out Yainer Diaz, then forcing Walker into a flyout. Chas McCormick pinch hit for Taylor Trammell and grounded out to third to send the game to the bottom of the frame.
Josh Hader was Houston’s closer on Friday and nearly allowed the walk-off hit. With one out, Story doubled into left field and Rob Refsnyder, who pinch hit for Yoshida, walked to put runners on first and second base. Hader then forced Narvaez into a flyout and struck out Abreu to send it to extra innings.
In the 10th, Houston went three-up-three-down. McCormick advanced to third on a Mauricio Dubon fielder’s choice, then was stranded after a Pena flyout.
At the bottom of the frame, Abreu got to third base on a Ceddanne Rafaela fielder’s choice as Rafaela reached second on a fielder’s indifference. Anthony secured the game for Boston with a walkoff single into center field, causing the 2-1 loss for Houston.
BIG NUMBER: 4
Despite the loss on Friday, the Houston Astros still hold a four-game lead over the Seattle Mariners in the AL West division. Houston’s also 4-6 over their last 10 games.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Roman Anthony
Anthony went 2-5 from the plate, including recording the game-winning hit at the bottom of the 10th. That hit dropped Houston’s record to 62-48 in their 2-1 loss.
UP NEXT: Game two between the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox is set for Saturday, August 2nd. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 3:10 pm, and the action can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette 104.1 Lake Charles.