Houston drops the game to Arizona
D-backs outslug Greinke and Astros to take series opener
Sep 18, 2020, 10:19 pm
Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
Astros George Springer
With the series win over the Rangers by taking two of three games in the middle of the week, the Astros welcomed the Diamondbacks to Minute Maid Park for a three-game weekend series, Houston's final three regular-season home games. Here is how the opener unfolded:
Final Score: Diamondbacks 6, Astros 3.
Record: 25-26, second in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Zac Gallen (2-2, 3.00 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Luis Garcia (0-1, 2.53 ERA).
Houston scores first, but Arizona grabs a lead against Greinke
Houston would get on the board first on Friday night, with George Springer reaching base in the bottom of the first on an error, moving to second on a walk, then to third on a single, as the Astros loaded the bases with no out to threaten a big inning. Instead, they would come away with just one run, with Springer taking home on a wild pitch, grabbing the 1-0 lead, but leaving runs on the table.
They doubled their lead in the bottom of the third, getting a two-out RBI-double by Kyle Tucker to make it a 2-0 Houston lead. The D-backs responded in the top of the fourth, getting back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before a three-run homer by Kole Calhoun off of Zack Greinke would put Arizona in front, 3-2. Greinke would finish one more inning before Houston would move to their bullpen, striking out the side to bring his total to nine on the night, making the bad fourth inning the one blemish on his night. His final line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 89 P.
Astros tie it, but D-backs take the opener
Adiós 👋#LosAstros #PorLaH pic.twitter.com/xiawGP9l3t
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 19, 2020
George Springer would get Greinke off the hook in the bottom of the fifth, leading off the half-inning with a solo bomb to tie the game at 3-3. Luis Garcia was first out of Houston's bullpen and retired Arizona in order for a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth. He returned for the top of the seventh but would allow a leadoff single, RBI-triple, and wild pitch to bring in two runs. He would face two more batters, allowing a double and getting a strikeout, before Dusty Baker would come out to get him, now down 5-3.
Blake Taylor would make his return from the IL after Garcia, getting back-to-back outs to finish the inning. He continued on in the 5-3 game in the top of the eighth, but allowed a one-out solo homer to Calhoun, his second of the night and fourth RBI. That made it a 6-3 D-backs lead, which would go final as Houston would go scoreless after Springer's home run back in the fifth.
Up Next: The middle game of this three-game set will start Saturday at 6:10 PM Central. The pitching matchup will be Luke Weaver (1-7, 6.70 ERA) for Arizona and Cristian Javier (4-2, 3.22 ERA) for Houston.
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Astros emerge on top after thrilling battle with Red Sox
Aug 11, 2025, 10:45 pm
The Astros kick off a thrilling homestand Monday night with a showdown that’s as much about star power as it is about the standings. Houston welcomes the Boston Red Sox for the first of a three-game series, but all eyes will be on two familiar faces stepping back into Daikin Park under wildly different yet equally electric circumstances.
Alex Bregman returns to Houston for the first time since joining the Red Sox, while Carlos Correa makes his much-anticipated debut in front of Astros fans since coming back home.
Correa’s reappearance in an Astros uniform still feels surreal. A year ago, the thought of him hitting in the heart of Houston’s order again seemed impossible. Now, paired once more with Jose Altuve, the Astros’ longtime shortstop is right back where he built his legacy, and perhaps even more dangerous than before.
Guess who else is returning?
There’s another reunion of sorts on the mound. Cristian Javier, who hasn’t pitched in a game this season, makes his long-awaited return, facing one of baseball’s hottest teams. Javier will have to contend with a Boston lineup powered by Wilyer Abreu’s 21 homers and the recent surge of Jarren Duran.
The Astros enter at 66-52, holding a slim lead atop the AL West and boasting the second-best batting average in the league at .258. Jeremy Peña continues to pace the lineup at .315, while Altuve has been scorching over the past 10 games, hitting .390 with four homers.
Boston, 65-54 and chasing the AL East crown, has been just as dangerous, riding a 7-3 stretch with a 3.10 ERA and plenty of timely hitting.
Monday’s opener pairs Javier against left-hander Garrett Crochet, who’s been one of baseball’s toughest arms this year with a 2.24 ERA and 183 strikeouts. With star power returning, playoff positioning at stake, and Correa back where he once ruled, this series could have October energy before the calendar even flips to September.
Astros vs. Crochet
Pena is leading off and playing shortstop, with Correa in the 2-hole and playing third base. Altuve will DH and hit third again, with Christian Walker batting cleanup and playing first base.
Big show tonight.
⚾️: 7:10 PM
🏟️: Closed
📺: @SpaceCityHN | SCHN2
🎙️: @SportsTalk790 | Spanish: 93.3 FM#TheNextFrontier x @reliantenergy pic.twitter.com/tfly0FBgOD
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 11, 2025
Yainer Diaz will catch Javier and hit fifth, followed by Ramon Urias (2B), Mauricio Dubon (LF), Chas McCormick (CF), and Cam Smith (RF).
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