Astros complete four-game sweep with extra-inning win over Indians
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
Ladies and gentlemen, Chas McCormick.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/AxxpOYy6Hl
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 4, 2021
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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