Houston has won six in a row
Astros secure series win over A's with homers by Altuve and Tucker
Jul 7, 2021, 10:10 pm
Kyle Tucker had the big go-ahead homer in Wednesday's game against the A's. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Kyle Tucker had the big go-ahead homer in Wednesday's game against the A's.
After mounting an impressive comeback to take the series opener against the A's, the Astros took the field in the middle game of this three-game series to try and lock up the victory with a win on Wednesday night. Thanks to homers by Jose Altuve and Kyle Tucker, they would grab the win.
Final Score: Astros 4, A's 3
Astros' Record: 54-33, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Blake Taylor (2-2)
Losing Pitcher: Sean Manaea (6-6)
Garcia gives up an early homer, Altuve backs him up
Like in the opener of the series, Oakland got on the board first in the top of the first inning, this time against Luis Garcia. Unlike their three-run first with multiple hits the night prior, this time, it was limited to a solo home run by Matt Olson to give the A's the early 1-0 lead, which held for a few innings.
Jose Altuve. What else can you say? đź’Ş#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/6gb3u8Pu1m
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 8, 2021
In the bottom of the third, Houston put their first two batters on base to set up a three-run go-ahead home run by Jose Altuve with one out, making it a 3-1 Astros advantage. Garcia rebounded for four scoreless innings after the early homer, leaving in line for the win with another solid start: 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 88 P.
Oakland ties it, Tucker puts Houston back in front
Houston moved into their bullpen starting in the top of the sixth, with Cristian Javier entering to relieve Garcia. It would not be a good inning for him, allowing a solo homer to his first batter before loading the bases with no outs on two singles and a walk. He gave up the tying run on a wild pitch, but thanks to some solid defense and a strikeout was able to limit the damage there, leaving it a 3-3 tie.
Blake Taylor was Houston's next reliever in the top of the seventh, and though he dealt with traffic on the bases as well, he was able to post a scoreless inning by erasing an error and walk. Kyle Tucker untied the game in the bottom of the seventh, launching a solo home run to put the Astros back on top 4-3.
King Tuck puts us ahead. đź‘‘#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/fszqkxuqPa
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 8, 2021
Astros secure the series
Ryne Stanek continued his recent role as setup man in the top of the eighth, tossing a 1-2-3 frame to maintain the one-run lead. That presented Ryan Pressly with another save opportunity in the top of the ninth, and he would notch it by sitting down Oakland in order, giving Houston the series win, and extending their lead in the division.
Up Next: The finale of this three-game set will be an afternoon game starting at 1:10 PM Central. The pitching matchup is slated to be Frankie Montas (7-7, 4.63 ERA) for Oakland and Lance McCullers Jr. (6-1, 2.97 ERA) for Houston.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.