Houston gets back in the win column
Astros get best of Bauer, Dodgers to split series
May 26, 2021, 9:48 pm
Carlos Correa hit a go-ahead homer off of Trevor Bauer Wednesday night. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Carlos Correa hit a go-ahead homer off of Trevor Bauer Wednesday night.
After a demoralizing loss in the first of this two-game set, the Astros tried to split the series on Wednesday night by getting a win over Trevor Bauer and the Dodgers. They would get the job done, ending their four-game skid and taking one of the two games in this series.
Final Score: Astros 5, Dodgers 2
Astros' Record: 27-22, second in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Luis Garcia (3-3)
Losing Pitcher: Trevor Bauer (5-3)
Altuve greets Bauer with a homer, Garcia tosses an impressive start
After a 1-2-3 top of the first by Luis Garcia, Trevor Bauer took the mound in the bottom of the inning for the Dodgers. He was greeted by a leadoff solo homer by Jose Altuve, giving the Astros an early 1-0 lead. Garcia held the lead until the top of the third when he would have a lengthy inning, allowing an RBI single to make it 1-1. Garcia rebounded well from that lengthy inning, retiring the next nine batters in a row to complete six quality innings. His final line: 6.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 0 HR, 100 P.
Astros split the series
He would end up in line for the win, thanks to Houston's second solo home run off of Bauer, this time Carlos Correa in the bottom of the sixth to give the Astros the lead back at 2-1. Houston extended their lead in the bottom of the seventh, getting an RBI single by Altuve then a two-run homer by Aledmyz Diaz to make it 5-1.
After a 1-2-3 top of the seventh by Brooks Raley, Ryne Stanek would finish the eighth though allowed a solo homer to cut the lead to 5-2. In the top of the ninth, Bryan Abreu would attempt the save and would get it by erasing two two-out walks. The win split the two-game set with Los Angeles and improved them to one game back of the A's for the AL West lead.
Up Next: The Astros will have a day off on Thursday, then will continue this homestand with the first of three games against the San Diego Padres on Friday at 7:10 PM Central. Framber Valdez will make his 2021 debut after starting the season injured, while the Padres are expected to start Dinelson Lamet (1-0, 1.64 ERA).
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The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the defending champs this weekend, they changed the tone of their season.
Dominant pitching. Star power. Road swagger. The three-game dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine wasn’t about revenge or validation. It was about showing, once and for all, that this version of the Astros, short-handed and all, belongs squarely in the conversation with baseball’s elite.
A statement series
The Astros pitching staff was lights out against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, holding the Dodgers to just six runs across three games, including two contests where LA managed just a single run. Lance McCullers Jr., much-maligned after getting shelled by the Cubs last week, bounced back in a big way. He worked around four walks, giving up just one run on a solo homer, a much-needed course correction as the Astros evaluate their playoff rotation options.
On the offensive side, the stars delivered in a big way. Jose Altuve torched Dodgers pitching with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. Christian Walker matched him with six hits of his own, including a pair of long balls and six RBIs.
A shift in expectations?
This wasn’t just a series win. This was a proof of concept.
Houston came into the series already heating up, now they’re officially on fire. Over the last 30 days, the Astros rank third in runs and fifth in RBIs. For the season, they’re top 10 in nearly every key offensive category: eighth in OPS, first in batting average, ninth in slugging. Defensively, the numbers are just as strong. They lead MLB in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average, and rank second in WHIP.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a team with top-five upside in both pitching and offense. The pieces are clicking. The vibes are real. And the Astros suddenly look like a legitimate World Series contender again.
Is help on the way?
Reliever Hector Neris rejoined the team this week, offering a veteran boost to a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily. Neris brings postseason pedigree and a reputation as a clubhouse leader. The Astros hope a return to familiar surroundings, and the guidance of one of the best pitching development staffs in the league, can get him back on track.
Tayler Scott returns on a minor league deal, and while the move may not turn heads, it adds another layer of depth to a bullpen that’s already one of the league’s best.
Background noise in LA
No Astros-Dodgers series goes by without a little extra noise and this one was no different. During the broadcast, former Cy Young winner and Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser raised eyebrows by implying that Houston’s offensive surge might not have been entirely on the level.
Predictable? Absolutely. Meaningful? Not even close.
If anything, it’s a weird kind of compliment. No one questions legitimacy when you’re losing. But after a lopsided 18-1 beat down people start reaching for answers, or excuses.
Inside the Astros clubhouse, though, that chatter doesn’t register.
They know exactly what this sweep meant. And so does the rest of the league.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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