How wild MLB offseason, debacles underline Astros ever-diverging core principles

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The New York Mets have sent shockwaves through MLB this offseason with their aggressive approach to free agency. The addition of Carlos Correa sparked a conversation about how teams are trying to catch the Astros, but is this tactic of team building viable long-term?

Be sure to check out the video above as we debate whether teams will begin employing a model similar to the Mets, or if their style of team building will continue to be an outlier and the Astros approach to free agency and player development is really the best plan of action.

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The Giants beat the Astros, 7-2. Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images.

Wilmer Flores hit his third homer of the season and drove in four runs to lead the San Francisco Giants over the Houston Astros 7-2 on Monday night.

Giants starter Jordan Hicks (1-0), who grew up in suburban Houston, allowed only a first-inning single and struck out six in six innings.

There were two on with two outs in the sixth when Flores sent a slider from Luis Contreras into the left-field seats to make it 5-0. The homer came after Flores hit an RBI single in the second to give San Francisco an early lead.

The Astros had managed just one hit and had a runner on second when Jose Altuve singled off Spencer Bivens with two outs in the eighth. Isaac Paredes then smacked a double off the wall in left field to score two runs and cut it to 5-2. Erik Miller took over and struck out Yordan Alvarez to end the inning.

Ronel Blanco (0-1), who threw a no-hitter in his season debut last year, allowed three hits and three runs with three walks in five-plus innings.

LaMonte Wade Jr. had a sacrifice fly in the fifth that made it 2-0.

Christian Walker singled with two outs in the first before Hicks retired the next 14 batters, fanning five straight. Altuve walked with one out in the sixth, but Hicks set down the next two batters to end the inning and his night.

Matt Chapman drove in two runs with a single in the ninth that made it 7-2.

Key moment

The home run by Flores that padded the lead in the sixth.

Key stat

San Francisco’s Bob Melvin managed his 200th career game against the Astros, improving to 99-101 with the victory.

Up next

RHP Hayden Wesneski makes his Houston debut against RHP Logan Webb when the series continues Tuesday night. Wesneski joined the Astros this offseason from the Chicago Cubs as part of the trade for outfielder Kyle Tucker.

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