Astros power past Twins to end three-game skid
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: Astros 10, Twins 4
The Astros were back at it on Tuesday night looking to end their three-game skid and get back in the win column against the Twins. Here's how things shook out:
Final Score: Astros 10, Twins 4
Record: 14-9, second in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Hector Rondon (2-0).
Losing pitcher: Trevor Hildenberger (2-1).
Stars of the game: George Springer should have had a 3-for-3 night, but Angel Hernandez struck to make his last at-bat a controversial strikeout. Nonetheless, Springer was 2-for-3 with two big RBIs and two walks that helped push the Astros to their win.
Notes: For yet another game, Houston saw their starting pitcher put themselves in a big hole early, with the Twins getting a three-run home run off of Wade Miley in the top of the first to go up 3-0. The Astros went to work against Michael Pineda in the bottom of the third, getting the first two batters on base to set up an RBI-single from George Springer, but would ground into a double play before stranding a runner to only come away with one run. Springer knocked in another run in the bottom of the fifth, another RBI-single to make it a one-run game at 3-2, then Alex Bregman came up clutch with a two-out two-RBI single to give Houston their first lead at 4-3. Wade Miley did great after his rough first inning, finishing six innings only allowing the three runs on the homer in the first. Hector Rondon was first out of the bullpen in the top of the seventh, and after two quick outs allowed back-to-back hits to tie the game 4-4.
After loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh, Alex Bregman came through again with a sac fly to put the Astros ahead again at 5-4. Michael Brantley added an insurance run after that, extending the lead to 6-4 before a bizarre play at the plate where Carlos Correa instinctively reached out and grabbed a wild pitch that resulted in the inning ending. Ryan Pressly took over on the mound for a scoreless eighth inning, then the Astros added a ton of insurance runs on an RBI from Jake Marisnick then later a three-run bomb from Jose Altuve to extend the lead to 10-4. With the game in a non-save situation, Will Harris took over in the top of the ninth to close out the win for Houston to get them back in the win column.
Up Next: Houston will wrap up this three-game series with Minnesota tomorrow night at 7:10 PM. The Astros will have Justin Verlander (3-0, 3.00 ERA) on the mound while the Twins have not yet named a starter.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
