Houston can't complete the sweep
Astros drop finale to Mariners after rough bullpen outing
Sep 8, 2021, 4:59 pm
Houston's offense couldn't outpace the bullpen struggles in Wednesday's finale against the Mariners. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
Houston's offense couldn't outpace the bullpen struggles in Wednesday's finale against the Mariners.
After the come-from-behind walk-off win in extras to lock up the series victory on Tuesday, the Astros sought a series sweep with a win on Wednesday afternoon to finish this series against Seattle. They would again come up short of a sweep, with their bullpen allowing late runs to put Seattle on top.
Final Score: Mariners 8, Astros 5
Astros' Record: 81-58, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Diego Castillo (3-5)
Losing Pitcher: Ryan Pressly (5-2)
Urquidy lasts only three frames
In this start, things did not go well for Jose Urquidy, beginning with a two-run first inning where he would load the bases with three one-out singles and then allowed a two-RBI double to Abraham Toro to put the Mariners in front 2-0. He would get through the next two innings without any more damage, but with his less-than-normal stuff and having already reached 70 pitches, Houston would move to their bullpen in the fourth. Urquidy's final line: 3.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 70 P.
Houston jumps in front
Urquidy would at least leave with his team in front, thanks to a three-run second by his offense. After a leadoff single by Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker drove him in with a one-out RBI double to make it a one-run game. Two batters later, Marwin Gonzalez, who recently rejoined his old team, launched a go-ahead two-run homer to put the Astros in front 3-2.
HE'S BACK.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/4cz2A5UQHi
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 8, 2021
The one-run score stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth, when Jose Altuve would add another run on a leadoff solo homer, making it 4-2. They had the chance for more that inning, loading the bases with two outs, but would strand all three runners. After Urquidy made his early exit, Christian Javier entered to eat up some innings, and he would, getting through the fourth, fifth, and pitched into the sixth. He would get one out while allowing two on base, one walk and one single, before being lifted in favor of Brooks Raley, who finished the frame and got the first batter out of the seventh.
Astros can't complete the sweep
After Raley, Yimi Garcia entered to try and finish the inning. Instead, he allowed a double and a single while getting one out, putting two on base as they moved on to Phil Maton. Maton would watch both inherited runners score, allowing a two-RBI double to tie the game 4-4. Still tied in the top of the eighth, Kendall Graveman came on and was able to post a scoreless inning, erasing a single and a walk during the inning.
Ryan Pressly entered to keep the stalemate going in the top of the ninth. He would get two strikeouts, but he allowed a single and a walk between them, setting up a go-ahead two-RBI single to blow the save. Blake Taylor entered to finish the inning, but not before allowing a two-run homer to make it an 8-4 game. Despite a leadoff solo homer by pinch-hitting Alex Bregman, the Astros come no closer, allowing the Mariners to avoid the sweep and salvage a game in the series.
Up Next: The Astros will have a day off on Thursday before continuing this homestand with the opener of a three-game series with the Angels Friday at 7:10 PM Central. Framber Valdez (9-5, 3.08 ERA) will be on the mound for Houston, while Los Angeles has not yet decided their starter.
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NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
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C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.