Houston wins both against Colorado
Diaz's big day helps lead Astros to two-game sweep of Rockies
Aug 11, 2021, 4:22 pm
Aledmyz Diaz's big day at the plate helped lead Houston's offense to a win over the Rockies. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images
Aledmyz Diaz's big day at the plate helped lead Houston's offense to a win over the Rockies.
With less than 50 games left in the regular season, the Astros made a quick turnaround from Tuesday night's win to try and get the mini-sweep against the Rockies on Wednesday afternoon. They would come out on top, thanks to a big day by Aledmys Diaz and solid pitching.
Final Score: Astros 5, Rockies 1
Astros' Record: 68-46, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Framber Valdez (8-3)
Losing Pitcher: Antonio Senzatela (2-9)
Valdez rebounds from first inning trouble
After shutting out Colorado over the nine innings less than 24 hours ago, the Astros allowed a run to the Rockies in the top of the first. Framber Valdez allowed two singles to the first three batters he faced, setting up the RBI single to make it a 1-0 score before the Astros could get to the plate. Luckily, Valdez rebounded from that, tossing 1-2-3 frames in the second and third, erasing a single in the fourth, stranding two in the fifth, then finishing his day by working around a hit by pitch and walk in the sixth. His final line: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 4 BB, 8 K, 100 P.
Diaz leads Houston's offense with timely hitting
Houston quickly backed Valdez up after his first-inning run, getting one of their own on an RBI single by Aledmys Diaz to tie things up in the bottom of the same inning. They grabbed the lead in the bottom of the third, with Yordan Alvarez getting on base with a one-out double to set up Diaz's second RBI of the day, another single to put the Astros in front 2-1. The score stayed there until the bottom of the sixth, where Jake Meyers led the inning off with a single, stole second, tagged to third on a lineout, then beat out a throw home on a sac fly by Martin Maldonado to extend the lead to 3-1.
Astros get the two-game sweep
Correa adds on! #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/Bs1xcH2J1I
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 11, 2021
Houston turned to their bullpen starting in the top of the seventh, with Ryne Stanek taking over for Valdez. Stanek kept the score at 3-1, giving up a two-out double to Trevor Story but stranding him by ending the frame with a strikeout. Carlos Correa added an insurance run with an RBI double in the bottom half, as did Diaz, his third RBI hit of the day to make it a four-run lead. Kendall Graveman was the next reliever for the Astros and made it through a 1-2-3 frame on just eight pitches in the top of the eighth. Ryan Pressly came in to close things out in the top of the ninth, erasing a leadoff walk to wrap up the victory.
Up Next: Houston will get a day off on Thursday as they travel to Los Angeles to pick up a three-game set with the Angels starting at 8:38 PM Central on Friday. The opener pitching matchup is expected to be Patrick Sandoval (3-5, 3.39 ERA) for LA and Zack Greinke (10-3, 3.69 ERA) for the Astros.
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The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the defending champs this weekend, they changed the tone of their season.
Dominant pitching. Star power. Road swagger. The three-game dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine wasn’t about revenge or validation. It was about showing, once and for all, that this version of the Astros, short-handed and all, belongs squarely in the conversation with baseball’s elite.
A statement series
The Astros pitching staff was lights out against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, holding the Dodgers to just six runs across three games, including two contests where LA managed just a single run. Lance McCullers Jr., much-maligned after getting shelled by the Cubs last week, bounced back in a big way. He worked around four walks, giving up just one run on a solo homer, a much-needed course correction as the Astros evaluate their playoff rotation options.
On the offensive side, the stars delivered in a big way. Jose Altuve torched Dodgers pitching with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. Christian Walker matched him with six hits of his own, including a pair of long balls and six RBIs.
A shift in expectations?
This wasn’t just a series win. This was a proof of concept.
Houston came into the series already heating up, now they’re officially on fire. Over the last 30 days, the Astros rank third in runs and fifth in RBIs. For the season, they’re top 10 in nearly every key offensive category: eighth in OPS, first in batting average, ninth in slugging. Defensively, the numbers are just as strong. They lead MLB in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average, and rank second in WHIP.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a team with top-five upside in both pitching and offense. The pieces are clicking. The vibes are real. And the Astros suddenly look like a legitimate World Series contender again.
Is help on the way?
Reliever Hector Neris rejoined the team this week, offering a veteran boost to a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily. Neris brings postseason pedigree and a reputation as a clubhouse leader. The Astros hope a return to familiar surroundings, and the guidance of one of the best pitching development staffs in the league, can get him back on track.
Tayler Scott returns on a minor league deal, and while the move may not turn heads, it adds another layer of depth to a bullpen that’s already one of the league’s best.
Background noise in LA
No Astros-Dodgers series goes by without a little extra noise and this one was no different. During the broadcast, former Cy Young winner and Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser raised eyebrows by implying that Houston’s offensive surge might not have been entirely on the level.
Predictable? Absolutely. Meaningful? Not even close.
If anything, it’s a weird kind of compliment. No one questions legitimacy when you’re losing. But after a lopsided 18-1 beat down people start reaching for answers, or excuses.
Inside the Astros clubhouse, though, that chatter doesn’t register.
They know exactly what this sweep meant. And so does the rest of the league.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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