Houston posts another poor offensive day
Astros held scoreless by White Sox to lose the series in Chicago
Jul 18, 2021, 3:47 pm
Framber Valdez's rough start on Sunday paired with Houston's lack of offense handed Chicago the series. Photo by Harry How/Getty Images.
Framber Valdez's rough start on Sunday paired with Houston's lack of offense handed Chicago the series.
With each team grabbing a lopsided win in the first two games of the series, the Astros tried to lock up the series with a win in the finale on Sunday behind Framber Valdez. It would not go their way, however, with Carlos Rodon holding Houston's potent offense in check for a second straight game, and the White Sox getting runs on the board against Valdez to take the series.
Final Score: White Sox 4, Astros 0
Astros' Record: 56-38, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Carlos Rodon (8-3)
Losing Pitcher: Framber Valdez (5-2)
Valdez loses the pitching battle
While his offense was struggling to get anything done against Carlos Rodon, Houston's starter Framber Valdez was trying to power through to a quality start but would come up short. After a scoreless first, the White Sox struck first in the bottom of the second against him, turning a one-out walk into an RBI single later in the inning. He rebounded with a 1-2-3 third but was met with a leadoff solo homer to start the bottom of the fourth, making it 2-0.
He allowed another solo shot in the bottom of the next inning, then continued on the mound through to the bottom of the seventh, where after a leadoff walk and RBI single to make it 4-0, would allow a double to his last batter before Houston would make the call to their bullpen to bring in Ryne Stanek, who finished off the frame. Valdez's final line: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 97 P.
Astros get shutout as White Sox take the series
That planted Valdez firmly in position for the loss, as Rodon subdued Houston's offense to just one hit over seven innings before Chicago would go to their bullpen in the top of the eighth. Houston would stay unless, and in the bottom of the eighth, their next reliever was Blake Taylor who posted a 1-2-3 inning. Houston would continue to be held scoreless in the top of the ninth, with Chicago completing the shutout to take the game and the series.
Up Next: With this short three-game road trip complete, the Astros will return home to welcome in the Indians for a series starting Monday at 7:10 PM Central. The opener will feature the pitching matchup of J.C. Mejia (1-4, 7.42 ERA) for Cleveland and Luis Garcia (6-5, 3.06 ERA) for Houston.
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Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Key moment
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Key Stat
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Up next
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.