In their weekend series versus the Chicago Cubs, the Houston Astros won game one 7-4 before losing Saturday’s matchup 12-3. That led up to Sunday’s rubber matchup, where the Stros took the series in a 2-0 game, improving their record to 50-34.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Early on in the game, former Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker doubled into right field from his two-hole spot. He was left stranded after Seiya Suzuki and Dansby Swanson lined out and flew out.
Isaac Paredes was Houston’s leadoff hitter with Jake Meyers occupying the spot after him. Both batters singled to put runners on first and second. Jose Altuve followed that up, however, by striking out. Cam Smith then flew out in right field, and Yainer Diaz hit into a fielder’s choice to end the first inning.
Both teams combined to record three hits through the middle of the fifth inning. Maurico Dubon singled in the second, and Jon Berti hit into left field. Bertu also stole second and advanced to third on an Ian Happ groundout, leading to an easy opportunity to score the game’s first run. Tucker didn’t give him a chance to, though, as he hit into a groundout to Astros shortstop, Dubon, to send it to the middle of the third. The other hit was by Chicago’s Justin Turner in the fifth when he hit a center field single before being tagged out at second.
Houston’s starting pitcher was Framber Valdez, who struck out at least one Cubs batter in the first four innings, totaling five in that time frame. Valdez concluded his day on the mound after the sixth inning. His final stat line was six punchouts, five hits, and two walks allowed.
The game’s only runs scored were in the bottom of the fifth. Luis Guillorme had a leadoff single and was nearly stranded after Paredes and Meyers flew out in right field, but with two outs, Altuve stepped up to the plate. On the second pitch of the at-bat, the 35-year-old second baseman hit a two-run home run 347 feet over the left field wall to give Houston the lead.
Chicago’s Jameson Taillon went 4.2 innings and was the pitcher who gave up the two-run blast by Altuve. Taillon’s final stat line was five hits, two runs, one walk, and four punch outs, giving him his sixth loss of the season.
Taillon was replaced by Ryan Brasier, who closed out the fifth and was on the mound until the end of the sixth. Brasier allowe one hit to Christian Hummel and struck out two other batters.
Bryan Abreu went in for the Valdez in the seventh and eighth, not allowing a hit, a walk, and struck out four Cub batters, including Happ, Suzuki, and Swanson.
Josh Hader closed out the game for Houston, recording his 23rd save of the season as he struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong, forced Carson Kelly to fly out in right field and Nico Hoerner was the final out as he hit a foul ball that was caught by the catcher, Diaz. That secured the 2-0 win for the Astros, improving their record to 50-34.
BIG NUMBER: 11
It’s been 11 series since the Astros lost. The last time was when they lost two out of three against the Tampa Bay Rays on the road back on May 19th-21st. Since then , Houston’s racked up nine wins, three being sweeps against the Athletics, Twins, and Phillies, and split their other series against the Rays and A’s.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jose Altuve
Altuve was the difference maker in Sunday’s matchup. His two-run homer in the fifth were the only runs scored in the ball game and that gave the Astros their 50th win in 84 attempts.
UP NEXT: The Houston Astros will travel to Denver, Colorado, to take on the Rockies in a midweek series. Game one’s first pitch is set for Tuesday, July 1st. The first pitch from Coors Field is scheduled for 7:40 p.m., and the action can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette and 104.1 Lake Charles.