Astros beat Boston for ninth-straight win
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 3-1 win
May 17, 2019, 9:11 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Riding an eight-game winning streak into Boston, the Astros started a weekend series with the defending champion Red Sox in an ALCS rematch from last season. Here's a rundown of the first game of the three-game set:
Final Score: Astros 3, Red Sox 1
Record: 30-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Will Harris (1-0, 1.23 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Rick Porcello (3-4, 4.80 ERA).
1) Porcello outlasts Cole before losing lead
Both starting pitchers had their work cut out for them going up against potent lineups at the plate. Gerrit Cole had a very respectable game, working in and out of some trouble to finish five scoreless innings with six hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Rick Porcello had a much more efficient night than Cole, finishing seven scoreless innings, but would allow two runs in the eighth to earn him the loss.
2) Springer breaks through late
After a tough night at the plate through the first seven innings, Houston finally had something to work with after Jake Marisnick led off the eighth with a double. That provided an opportunity for George Springer to blast a go-ahead home run, his 17th of the year, to put the Astros ahead 2-1. They'd make it a three-run inning by working a couple of walks then getting an RBI sac fly from Josh Reddick to extend the lead to 3-1.
3) Bullpen throws four innings of one-run ball
After Cole's night ended relatively early, it was up to Houston's bullpen to throw four innings and keep the Astros in the game. Things weren't looking good in the first of those four innings, with Hector Rondon allowing an RBI-single for the first run of the game, putting Boston up 1-0 at the time. That would be the only run the Red Sox would get, though, with Will Harris throwing a 1-2-3 seventh with two strikeouts, then Ryan Pressly throwing yet another scoreless inning, making it an MLB-record 39 straight appearances. Roberto Osuna took over in the ninth and worked around a one-out double and two-out walk to lock up another save and finish the win.
Up Next: The Astros will continue this series tomorrow with game two of three getting underway at 6:15 PM. Corbin Martin (1-0, 3.38 ERA) will make his second career start for Houston and look to repeat the success of his first as he goes up against Hector Velazquez (1-2, 3.95 ERA) for Boston.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
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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