Astros complete four-game sweep with extra-inning win over Indians

Astros' Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel
Houston had excellent play on both sides of the ball in extra innings to finish a four-game sweep on Sunday. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Houston had excellent play on both sides of the ball in extra innings to finish a four-game sweep on Sunday.

With wins in the first three games under their belt, the Astros tried to finish this series and head into a day off owners of a four-game sweep. Although Cleveland would force extra innings, Houston held on to win thanks to excellent play on both sides of the ball in the tenth inning.

Final Score (10 innings): Astros 4, Indians 3

Astros' Record: 52-33, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Blake Taylor (1-2)

Losing Pitcher: Emmanuel Clase (3-3)

McCormick keeps coming through for Houston

After three scoreless innings on both sides, Houston started the scoring for the afternoon in the top of the fourth on a Chas McCormick RBI single to grab the 1-0 lead. After the Indians tied it with a run in the bottom of the fifth off of Zack Greinke, the Astros regained the lead after a leadoff single by Carlos Correa in the top of the sixth set up two more RBI for McCormick, this time a two-run go-ahead homer.

Late homer costs Greinke's chance at a win

Zack Greinke cruised early in this start, allowing just one baserunner through the first four innings on a first-inning single. Cleveland got on the board against him in the fifth, getting a run on a hit, walk, and a couple of sacrifices, at the time tying the game. He allowed a solo homer in the sixth but finished that inning along with a scoreless seventh.

He tried to hang on in line for the win in the bottom of the eighth, but a one-out solo homer tied the game before he would get one more out as Dusty Baker would bring in Blake Taylor, who notched the final out. That put an end to Greinke's stat line: 7.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 HR, 100 P.

Astros complete the four-game sweep in extras

Taylor remained on the mound for the bottom of the ninth, still tied, to try and force extra innings. He got it done, retiring the Indians 1-2-3 to send the game to the tenth. Myles Straw started on second base in the top half, but after moving to third on a strikeout wild pitch, got caught between there and home on a groundball.

Another defensive miscue by Cleveland on the next play proved costly, as a potential double-play turned error allowed Yuli Gurriel to score to put Houston back in front 4-3. Brooks Raley entered to try and close things out, and after a tremendous defensive play by him on the mound where he caught a bunt and fired it to second for a double play, he finished the four-game sweep for Houston.

Up Next: After a day off on Monday, the Astros will pick up their final week of games before the All-Star break on Tuesday as they welcome in the A's for a three-game set in Houston. In the opener, Framber Valdez (5-1, 2.18 ERA) is expected to go opposite Chris Bassitt (9-2, 3.04 ERA) for Oakland.

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Kyle Tucker returns to Houston this weekend. Composite Getty Image.

Two first-place teams, identical records, and a weekend set with serious measuring-stick energy.

The Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs open a three-game series Friday night at Daikin Park, in what could quietly be one of the more telling matchups of the summer. Both teams enter at 48-33, each atop their respective divisions — but trending in slightly different directions.

The Astros have been red-hot, going 7-3 over their last 10 while outscoring opponents by 11 runs. They've done it behind one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, with a collective 3.41 ERA that ranks second in the American League. Houston has also been dominant at home, where they’ve compiled a 30-13 record — a stat that looms large heading into this weekend.

On the other side, the Cubs have held their ground in the NL Central but have shown some recent shakiness. They're 5-5 over their last 10 games and have given up 5.66 runs per game over that stretch. Still, the offense remains dangerous, ranking fifth in on-base percentage across the majors. Kyle Tucker leads the way with a .287 average, 16 homers, and 49 RBIs, while Michael Busch has been hot of late, collecting 12 hits in his last 37 at-bats.

Friday’s pitching matchup features Houston’s Brandon Walter (0-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) and Chicago’s Cade Horton (3-1, 3.73 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), a promising young arm making one of his biggest starts of the season on the road. Horton will have his hands full with Isaac Paredes, who’s slugged 16 homers on the year, and Mauricio Dubón, who’s found a groove with four home runs over his last 10 games.

It’s the first meeting of the season between these two clubs — and if the trends continue, it may not be the last time they cross paths when it really counts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -112, Cubs -107; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

Here's a preview of Joe Espada's Game 1 lineup.

The first thing that stands out is rookie Cam Smith is hitting cleanup, followed by Jake Meyers. Victor Caratini is the DH and is hitting sixth. Christian Walker is all the way down at seventh, followed by Yainer Diaz, and Taylor Trammell who is playing left field.

How the mighty have fallen.

Pretty wild to see Walker and Diaz hitting this low in the lineup. However, it's justified, based on performance. Walker is hitting a pathetic .214 and Diaz is slightly better sporting a .238 batting average.

Screenshot via: MLB.com



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