REAL TALK
Let's have an honest discussion about the Houston Astros' start to the season
Apr 18, 2022, 3:10 pm
Sure, it's early. But the Astros haven't been able to hit out of the gates. I get it. And there's several possible excuses/reasons as to why: They opened the season on a long road trip. They didn't have a full spring training. They haven't had their full Opening Day lineup since...Opening Day. Some of their players are notorious for starting slow.
Whatever the case, there's no arguing this: the Astros' bats have been bad. They slashed .208/.289/.372 to open the year, averaging just 3.4 runs per game. They're hitting .191 with runners in scoring position. Only 6 teams have a lower batting average than Houston right now. And of their 31 total runs thus far, 8 came in one inning against the Angels.
Is it time to panic? No. Not yet. But given this team has made 5 straight ALCS appearances, let's hold them to the standard they hold themselves too. All season! Be sure to check out the video above as Vanessa and Gallant share their thoughts on Houston's slow start to the season with their bats.
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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.