Astros' winning streak extended to ten games
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 4 hits from the 7-3 win
May 18, 2019, 9:47 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
With a win under their belt from the night before, the Astros looked to secure the series win with a victory on Saturday night. Here are the quick facts and four hits from the game:
Final Score: Astros 7, Red Sox 3
Record: 31-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Josh James (1-0, 4.56 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Hector Velazquez (1-3, 5.53 ERA).
1) Starting with a bang
The Astros came out firing starting with leadoff man George Springer drilling a triple to start the game. He'd come around to score on an RBI-double by Michael Brantley to start a five-run first inning with RBIs from Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel, along with a two-RBI double by Tyler White, putting Houston ahead 5-0 and knocking Hector Velazquez out of the game before Boston could even come to the plate.
2) Rougher start for Martin
After a terrific debut last week by Corbin Martin, he had a tougher matchup in the Red Sox and in the hostile environment of Boston. He'd watch one run come across in the bottom of the first after walking the bases loaded on three consecutive two-out walks then a passed ball by Max Stassi scored the run to make it 5-1. After a quick second inning, Martin allowed a walk then RBI-double in the third, making it a 6-2 game at the time.
He allowed a solo home run just around Pesky's Pole in the bottom of the fourth, then after back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the fifth had his night come to an end. Josh James was able to come in and erase those runners, putting Martin's final line at 4 innings pitched, 3 runs (2 earned), 4 walks, and 0 strikeouts.
3) Staying out in front
After the big five-run first inning, the Astros made sure to maintain a multiple-run lead with Boston taking some runs back. In the second, Houston was able to get runners on the corners with one out, setting up an RBI sac fly by Carlos Correa to make it 6-1. Josh Reddick led off the fifth with a solo home run, putting the lead back to four runs at 7-3, a score that would hold until the end.
4) Five strong innings from the bullpen
As mentioned, Josh James came in to get all three outs in the fifth after Martin was unable to get through it. James would go on to eat up three big innings, all scoreless, maintaining the four-run lead and saving some other bullpen arms from having to be used. Will Harris entered the game to pitch the eighth and retired the Red Sox in order to send the game to the ninth. In the ninth, Roberto Osuna took over in a non-save situation and was able to finish off the win.
Up Next: Houston and Boston will wrap up this series tomorrow with the first pitch of the game at 12:05 PM. The Astros will send Wade Miley (4-2, 3.51 ERA) to the mound to try and complete the sweep, but to do so he'll have to beat out Boston's ace Chris Sale (1-5, 4.24 ERA).
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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