Astros win in extra innings on Labor Day
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 3-2 win
Sep 2, 2019, 6:46 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
Riding high after a phenomenal no-hitter by Justin Verlander on Sunday to close out the series with the Blue Jays in Toronto, Houston turned their attention to a quick two-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers. The first of those two games was on Labor Day Monday, and here is how it shook out:
Final Score (10 innings): Astros 3, Brewers 2.
Record: 90-49, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Roberto Osuna (4-3, 3.13 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Junior Guerra (8-5, 3.63 ERA).
1) It wasn't a no-hitter, but still a gem by Cole
Gerrit Cole would see his chances of matching Justin Verlander with a no-hitter eliminated in the bottom of the first inning. Cole allowed a one-out solo home run, putting the Brewers up 1-0 early. He was quick to shrug off that early mistake, mowing down batters to get to another double-digit strikeout start with the tenth coming in the bottom of the fifth. In that same inning, Cole would face a tough test after loading the bases with two outs but would get another strikeout to end Milwaukee's threat.
With his pitch count rising, he emptied the tank in the bottom of the sixth trying to finish off one more inning before Houston would have to go to their bullpen. Cole would end up providing a 1-2-3 inning with two more strikeouts, bringing his total to fourteen on the day. His final line: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 14 K, 1 HR.
2) Bregman ties it, Alvarez gives Houston the lead
Houston's offense was able to work Adrian Houser deep into counts several times over the early parts of the game, but would not get on the scoreboard until the third inning when Alex Bregman hit an RBI-single to tie the game 1-1.
That tie lasted until the top of the sixth inning when Yordan Alvarez would hit a go-ahead solo home run to put Houston ahead 2-1. The homer was Alvarez's 22nd of his rookie campaign, tying Carlos Correa's rookie-record number from 2015.
22 dingers for the 22-year-old. 💪 pic.twitter.com/dn67RBZgo7
— MLB (@MLB) September 2, 2019
3) Osuna allows Milwaukee to tie, Springer puts Houston ahead in the tenth
With Cole finished after his six innings, the Astros turned the ball over to Hector Rondon for the bottom of the seventh to maintain the one-run lead. He did so, retiring the Brewers in order with two strikeouts. Will Harris was next out of Houston's bullpen to pitch the bottom of the eighth, and he was able to erase a one-out single by flashing a little leather on a double play to keep the Astros ahead by one run going to the ninth.
With the score still 2-1 going to the bottom of the ninth, Roberto Osuna would come in for another save opportunity. Instead, he allowed a leadoff home run to Christian Yelich to tie the game. After two outs, Osuna had a comebacker then botched the throw to first, extending the inning, but would get a strikeout to send the game to extra innings.
In the top of the tenth, George Springer immediately broke the tie with a leadoff dinger to put Houston back in front 3-2. Josh James, making his return from a stint on the injured list, came in for the bottom of the tenth and was able to hold off the Brewers, despite two walks, to complete the win.
This game was tied for about 5 minutes. #SpringerDinger #SeptemberBaseball pic.twitter.com/uxkA5gpzRT
— MLB (@MLB) September 2, 2019
Up Next: The Astros will wrap up this two-game set with the Brewers on Tuesday at 6:40 PM. The expected pitching matchup is Jordan Lyles (9-8, 4.55 ERA) for Milwaukee going up against Zack Greinke (14-4, 2.99 ERA) for Houston.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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Astros eye a bounce-back before momentum gets away
Jul 9, 2025, 2:46 pm
Angel Martínez hit a grand slam off closer Josh Hader with two outs in the 10th inning to lift the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-6 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.
José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio also homered to help the Guardians beat the Astros for a second straight night after entering the series on a 10-game skid.
Out for a second inning after throwing a scoreless ninth and with a runner on starting on second, Hader (5-2) intentionally walked Ramírez before walking Carlos Santana to load the bases. Hader struck out pinch-hitter Johnathan Rodríguez before Martínez sent a sinker 344 feet, into the first row of the seats in left field to put the Guardians on top.
Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase struck out one in a scoreless 10th to end it after Jakob Junis (2-1) struck out two in the ninth to earn the win.
Houston scored two runs in the eighth inning, with an RBI single from Jose Altuve, to tie it.
Altuve had two hits and drove in four runs, and rookie Cam Smith added three hits.
Houston starter Hunter Brown, who entered with an MLB-leading 1.82 ERA, yielded six hits and a season-high six runs in six innings.
There was one on with one out in the first when Ramírez homered for a second consecutive game, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead.
The Astros cut the lead to 2-1 when Isaac Paredes scored on a sacrifice fly by Altuve in the bottom of the inning.
Rocchio doubled to start the third before scoring on a one-out double by Nolan Jones, making it 3-1. A two-out single by Daniel Schneemann scored two more, extending the lead to 5-1.
Altuve’s two-run double cut the lead to 6-3 with no outs in the fifth. Houston got within 6-4 when he scored on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini.
Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo allowed five hits and three runs with seven strikeouts in four-plus innings.
Key moment
The grand slam by Martínez into the Crawford Boxes.
Key stat
It’s the first time Cleveland has won back-to-back games since beating the Athletics June 21-22.
Up next
Houston LHP Brandon Walter (1-1, 4.15 ERA) opposes RHP Slade Cecconi (3-4, 3.56) when the series concludes Wednesday.