Houston gets win number 60
Astros secure series over Rangers with win in walk-heavy game
Jul 24, 2021, 9:21 pm
Yordan Alvarez hit a late homer to extend Houston's lead in a win over the Rangers on Saturday. Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Yordan Alvarez hit a late homer to extend Houston's lead in a win over the Rangers on Saturday.
After riding a couple of big innings to the win in the series opener, the Astros eyed a series victory on Saturday night against the Rangers. Despite struggles with the strike zone by both starting pitchers that resulted in a plethora of walks, it was still Houston that came out in front by getting timely offense and holding Texas' offense at bay.
Final Score: Astros 4, Rangers 1
Astros' Record: 60-39, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Framber Valdez (6-2)
Losing Pitcher: Kyle Gibson (6-3)
Astros jump out to an early lead as both pitchers issue walks galore
There were plenty of walks to go around in the early parts of Saturday's game, with Framber Valdez issuing two in the top of the first, but erasing them, then the Astros taking advantage of a few in the bottom half. Three of Houston's first four batters reached base via walks, loading the bases for Carlos Correa, who watched more balls come in out of the zone to walk in the first run of the night, making it a 1-0 game.
They would leave more on the table, though, with the next two batters recording outs to leave all three runners on base heading to the second, but were able to rectify that in the third. They extended their lead in the bottom of the third by more conventional means, getting two on base via a walk and double to set up sacrifice flys by Correa and Yordan Alvarez, putting them in front 3-0.
A wild, yet quality, start for Valdez
After issuing two walks each in the first and second innings but working around them, Framber Valdez settled in and started pitching efficiently in the top of the third. He retired the Rangers in order that frame, then worked around a two-out walk in the fourth. He followed that with another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, and despite allowing his sixth walk in the top of the sixth, he was able to erase it to keep the shutout alive and keep Texas without a hit. At 99 pitches, that would be it for him, as Houston would move on to the bullpen in the next inning. His final line: 6.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 4 K, 99 P.
Houston locks up the series
After the Astros left the bases loaded for the second time in the bottom of the sixth, the first reliever out of their bullpen was Bryan Abreu in the top of the seventh. Abreu had a solid inning, working around a leadoff error that put a runner on by retiring the next three, two on strikeouts. Yordan Alvarez added a run to the lead in the bottom of the inning, blasting a solo homer to push the score to 4-0.
Air Yordan makes it look easy! 🚀#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/34cKonlTif
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 25, 2021
Ryne Stanek took over in the top of the eighth and would watch a bloop single break up the no-hitter to lead off the inning. Still, he got through the frame by striking out the side to maintain the four-run lead. Ryan Pressly entered to finish things off in the top of the ninth but would allow a one-out solo homer to break up the shutout. He finished the inning, closing out the win for Houston to secure the series and handing the Rangers their eleventh loss in a row.
Up Next: The final game of this series and this homestand will be a 1:10 PM Central start on Sunday, with the Astros slated to hit the road for eight games after the finale. The Rangers are expected to have a bullpen day, while Zack Greinke (9-3, 3.58 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros to try and finish the sweep.
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Dansby Swanson hit a three-run homer during Chicago's four-run first inning and the short-handed Cubs beat the Houston Astros 4-3 on Wednesday night.
Playing without Cody Bellinger, Chicago used Swanson's big swing and a solid start by Jameson Taillon to earn its second straight win. It will try to sweep the three-game set against the struggling Astros on Thursday.
Taillon (2-0) allowed two runs, one earned, and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings on a chilly evening at Wrigley Field. The right-hander struck out four and walked two in his second start since he began the season on the injured list with a back strain.
“Before that back injury, I just really liked where we were at,” Taillon said, “and I feel like we were able to use that downtime as like, let’s stay on the straight and narrow, stay on the right path.”
Houston lost for the seventh time in eight games. It has scored a total of 21 runs during the slide.
Manager Joe Espada tried to spark his sputtering lineup by moving Alex Bregman into the second spot, between Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. But the Astros went 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base.
Altuve opened the ninth with a drive to left against HĂ©ctor Neris for his sixth homer. But Neris retired Bregman, Alvarez and Kyle Tucker for his second save in three opportunities.
Bellinger was placed on the 10-day injured list with two fractured ribs on his right side. The center fielder got hurt during the series opener Tuesday night.
There was no word just yet on a timetable for his return.
“The doctors will come up with a plan,” manager Craig Counsell said, “and, like everything, he’s got to get symptom-free first and we’ll go from there.”
Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ singled for Chicago in the first against Spencer Arrighetti. Michael Busch delivered a sacrifice fly and Christopher Morel walked before Swanson hit a two-out drive to left for his third homer.
The Cubs also got off to a fast start Tuesday night, jumping on the Astros for five runs in the first in a 7-2 victory.
“We’ve just been pretty committed to our plans coming in and put some good swings on some balls and that’s just a testament to the work that the guys are doing in the cage,” Swanson said.
Arrighetti (0-3) was pulled with two outs in the fourth. The right-hander allowed seven hits, struck out seven and walked two in his third major league start.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: LHP Framber Valdez (elbow soreness) threw about 40 pitches during a bullpen session. “He came off the mound feeling good,” Espada said. Valdez remains in line to start this weekend during a two-game series against Colorado in Mexico City. … RHP Cristian Javier (neck discomfort) played catch back in Houston. “The doctor saw him, and it looks like he's improving,” Espada said.
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks is taking pills to help with the inflammation from his low back strain. He also is getting treatment and playing catch to help keep his arm moving. He isn't too concerned about the injury. “It just made sense to give it the time to settle down, get out of there and give myself a chance to get back to 100 percent,” he said. ... OF Seiya Suzuki (right oblique strain) has resumed baseball activities.
UP NEXT
Houston right-hander Justin Verlander (1-0, 3.00 ERA) makes his second start since he missed the beginning of the season because of shoulder inflammation. Right-hander Javier Assad (2-0, 2.11 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago.