Astros power past Twins to end three-game skid
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: Astros 10, Twins 4
Apr 23, 2019, 10:14 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
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.
As the Houston Astros continue to navigate a season riddled with injuries and inconsistencies, the question looms larger than ever: can they keep their heads above water? With a barrage of pitching injuries threatening to derail their season, the Astros are finding themselves in a position where every decision matters more than ever.
The recent setbacks to the pitching staff (Hayden Wesnieski, Ronel Blanco) have placed even more pressure on the club. Lance McCullers, whose performances have been inconsistent, is now squarely in the spotlight. The Astros will need him to step up and shoulder a larger portion of the load. At the same time, the bullpen, which has been a bright spot so far, must continue its elite play to keep the team afloat. In particular, Houston can't afford to make mistakes in its decision-making, whether in the lineup or on the field.
Take, for example, the decision to give Chas McCormick a second start after his costly mistakes in Game 1 against the Rays. McCormick’s two pick-offs in that game showed he's lacking focus, yet he was given another chance to start Game 2. Houston needs to be making the right calls on the field, and this was a moment where the manager’s trust in McCormick might have been better placed elsewhere, considering his lack of success in the series.
On the offensive side, the Astros’ struggles have been just as apparent. Jose Altuve, a cornerstone of the franchise, has been attempting to bunt while hitting in the 3-hole. It’s a strategy that just doesn’t make sense. With the Astros needing to produce runs, Altuve's role is to drive them in, not waste strikes with ill-timed bunt attempts.
Is Houston's roster poorly constructed or just unlucky?
Given the pitching woes and offensive troubles, some are beginning to question whether the Astros’ roster is poorly constructed, or if it’s simply been an unfortunate series of events. The bad luck with pitching injuries is undeniable, but the offense tells a different story—particularly when it comes to the lineup’s balance.
One glaring issue is the team’s heavy reliance on right-handed hitters. With players like Christian Walker struggling at the plate, it’s hard to overlook the potential misstep in roster construction. Walker’s performance this season has been abysmal, and it’s fair to wonder if the Astros would have been better off investing in a more flexible first-base platoon. Players like Jon Singleton, Victor Caratini, Zach Dezenzo, Yainer Diaz, and even Mauricio Dubon could have filled in at first base, providing much-needed depth at a fraction of the cost. At this point, they couldn’t have done worse than Walker, who has posted a paltry .199 batting average, .270 OBP, and .607 OPS on the season.
In comparison, Walker’s numbers this season are worse than Jose Abreu’s 2023 campaign with Houston (.237 batting avg, .296 OBP, .680 OPS). Walker is a player known for slow starts, but nothing quite as severe as what we’ve seen in 2025. His struggles are reminiscent of a disastrous start to the 2022 season that saw him fail to find his rhythm until much later in the year, but even then, his slugging percentage was significantly better than what we’re seeing now.
Would a return of “career Yordan Alvarez” fix Houston’s offensive woes?
Amid the offensive malaise, the return of a fully healthy Yordan Alvarez could certainly provide a much-needed spark. If Alvarez were to return to his “career” form, with a healthy pitching staff, an intact bullpen, and a potential resurgence from key hitters, the Astros could see a drastic improvement in their fortunes. However, this is all contingent on a lot of “ifs,” and there’s no guarantee that a turnaround is on the horizon.
Observations and further concerns
As if the struggles on offense and pitching weren’t enough, the Astros’ defense has also been plagued by lapses in fundamentals. One of the more puzzling trends this season has been the number of stolen bases allowed, especially at third base. If the Astros continue to give up steals at this rate, it will be difficult for the pitchers to recover, especially if they are walking batters and putting runners in scoring position with alarming frequency.
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