BRAVES TAKE GAME 1
Braves overpower Astros as Houston's bats go silent
Apr 16, 2024, 8:49 am
Braves beat the Astros, 6-1. Composite Getty Image.
Austin Riley had three hits, including an RBI single in a four-run ninth inning as the Atlanta Braves pulled away for a 6-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night.
Orlando Arcia and Marcell Ozuna also had RBI singles in the ninth to help break open a 2-1 game.
Adam Duvall drew a leadoff walk from Josh Hader and moved to second on a wild pitch before Arcia delivered a run-scoring single. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies singled before Riley hit his RBI single. Hader exited after striking out Matt Olson.
Ozuna added another RBI single, and Michael Harris II drove in a run with a fielder’s choice to make it 6-1.
“That was huge against one of the toughest closers in this game,” Harris said. “It gives us a lot of confidence and shows we can go up against anybody. We have belief in our bats one through nine, so it gave us a lot of confidence against a tough guy like Hader.”
After allowing four runs, Hader has a 9.39 ERA in his first season with the Astros. He signed a $95 million, five-year contract in January.
“He’s getting after it,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “He’s just missing locations, but his stuff is pretty good. Just location, behind in the count, leadoff walk, but he’s been successful for a very long time. Stuff will click.”
Alex Bregman hit an RBI single for Houston in the first, but the Braves took the lead with two runs in the second. Travis d’Arnaud scored on an errant throw by shortstop Jeremy Peña, and Albies was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Jarred Kelenic.
Atlanta rookie Darius Vines allowed one run and four hits with four strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings. It was his third major league start and first appearance this season.
“Anytime I can give this team a chance to win, that’s what we are trying to do,” Vines said.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said Vines’ effort was “really good.”
“Once he was out there and kind of got his sweat going and got into a rhythm, he started pitching and mixing his pitches,” Snitker said.
Aaron Bummer (1-1) got two outs in relief for the win.
Spencer Arrighetti (0-2) gave up two runs and four hits with five strikeouts over four innings. Arrighetti improved from his major league debut against the Royals last Wednesday when he was tagged for seven runs in three innings.
“There’s a lot to look back and be proud of,” Arrighetti said. “I feel like I made some good adjustments in between starts this time around. … I made some big pitches tonight in some big situations that I’m really happy about.”
Jose Altuve had three hits for the third straight game for Houston, which fell to 6-12 this season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (right shoulder inflammation) is scheduled to throw a bullpen Tuesday and if all goes well he will make his season debut this weekend against the Nationals, Espada said.
UP NEXT
Atlanta RHP Reynaldo López (1-0, 0.75 ERA) starts Tuesday against Houston RHP Hunter Brown (0-2, 16.43), who gave up nine runs in less than an inning Thursday against the Royals.
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The Houston Astros will look to even their season series against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night as they return to Daikin Park for what promises to be a tightly contested matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET, with two left-handers taking the mound—Framber Valdez for Houston and Kris Bubic for Kansas City.
The Royals come into the game riding a three-game road winning streak and holding a 3-1 edge in the season series. Winners of eight of their last ten games, Kansas City has been one of the hottest teams in baseball lately, thanks in large part to their league-best 3.01 ERA. Bubic has been a key part of that success, boasting a 4-2 record and an impressive 1.69 ERA over 47 strikeouts this season.
Meanwhile, the Astros are trying to find some consistency. At 20-20 overall, Houston has been streaky to start the year, but they’ve been strong at home with a 13-9 record. When they out-hit their opponents, they’re a formidable 16-8, and they’ll be hoping the bats show up again Tuesday.
Framber Valdez will get the ball for the Astros. While his 2-4 record doesn’t reflect it, he’s been steady with a 3.94 ERA and 44 strikeouts. He’ll face a Kansas City lineup that’s been clicking—especially Maikel Garcia, who’s hitting .295 with 10 doubles and 17 RBIs on the year, and Vinnie Pasquantino, who’s batting .349 over his last ten games.
Houston’s lineup has some heat of its own. Jeremy Peña leads the team with five home runs, and Yainer Díaz has been scorching over the past ten games, going 16-for-43 with two homers and nine RBIs.
The Royals have outscored opponents by 16 runs over their last ten games, while the Astros have managed a +6 differential in that span despite going 4-6. With two talented pitchers on the mound and both offenses showing signs of life, Tuesday’s game could come down to which team capitalizes on the small moments.
The Astros are slight favorites according to BetMGM (-141), but with the way Kansas City has been playing, this one feels like it could go either way.
*ChatGPT assisted.
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