After winning game one 14-11 versus the Baltimore Orioles, the Houston Astros looked to take the series at home on Saturday. The Stros jumped out to an early lead and held onto win 5-1, courtesy of a couple of Chas McCormick moon shots as Houston improved to 37-40 and are now on a four-game win streak.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ronel Blanco got the start for Houston and walked the first two batters he faced. Gunnar Henderson got caught trying to steal second, and then Ryan O’Hearn and Ryan Mountcastle lined out and flew out.
The Astros went three-up-three-down at the bottom of the first. The Orioles then scored the first run of the game at the top of the second as Jordan Westburg hit a solo home run 380 feet over the left-center field wall.
Houston responded at the bottom of the frame when Yainer Diaz hit a leadoff triple off the right field wall. Jake Meyers struck out swinging but Mauricio Dubon had a sacrifice fly into left field to tie the game.
Yordan Alvarez gave the Stros their first lead of the game with two outs in the third inning when he hit a 420-foot bomb over center field to score two runs. Chas McCormick began the inning with a single up the middle.
After a scoreless bottom of the fourth and top of the fifth inning, McCormick returned with a solo homer into the Crawford Boxes to put Houston up 4-1.
Blanco finished the first seven innings and concluded his day by retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced and recorded four strikeouts compared to four hits allowed. Ryan Pressly made an appearance in the eighth and held his own, not allowing a hit and striking out O’Hearn to send it to the bottom of the frame.
Corbin Burnes was the starting pitcher for Baltimore and went seven full innings as well, finishing with five K’s and five hits given up. Bryan Baker came in for Burnes in the eighth and immediately allowed a hit as McCormick capped off his Saturday afternoon with a solo shot on the first pitch he saw.
Josh Hader was the closer in the ninth and secured the 5-1 win for Houston as he forced a line out by Mountcastle and then struck out Anthony Santander and Westburg. The win improved the Astros’ record to 37-40.
BIG NUMBER: 4
There were four total home runs in Saturday’s game two as three came from Astros batters (two from Chas McCormick, one from Yordan Alvarez) while the first was off the bat of Baltimore’s Jordan Westburg.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Chas McCormick
McCormick entered the game with one home run on the season but ended Saturday’s contest with two more. The 29-year-old outfielder went 3/3 from the plate and recorded his fifth multiple-home-run game of his career as Houston came out on top 5-1.
UP NEXT: Game three between the Astros and Orioles is set for Sunday, June 23rd. The first pitch at Minute Maid Park is scheduled for 1:10. The Astro launch will begin at 12:40 and can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette 104.1 Lake Charles.