ASTROS DEFEAT RAYS
Framber follows up no-hit bid with strong performance as Astros beat Rays 6-1
Aug 12, 2024, 8:51 pm
Astros defeat the Rays, 6-1. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.
Framber Valdez followed up his no-hit bid with 5 2/3 strong innings, and the AL West-leading Houston Astros won their six straight game by beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Monday night.
Did someone say Player of the Week?#Relentless pic.twitter.com/gwxqDjZmyc
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 12, 2024
Alex Bregman and Yainer Diaz homered for the Astros, who lead the division by one-half game over idle Seattle.
Yainer Diaz is a dangerous man.#Relentless pic.twitter.com/KalVPpnARO
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 12, 2024
Valdez (12-5) improved to 7-0 in his last nine starts after allowing three hits, one walk and striking out nine. The lefty was pulled after walking Yandy Díaz on his 101st pitch.
Valdez came within one out of his second career no-hitter in his previous start at Texas on Aug. 6 when Corey Seager homered with two outs in the ninth. The Rays got their first hit with one out in the first on a single by Dylan Carlson.
Tayler Scott and Kaleb Ort completed a four-hitter.
Bregman hit a first-inning solo shot, and Yainer Diaz had a three-run drive during a four-run third against Taj Bradley (6-7) as the Astros took a 5-0 lead. Yordan Alvarez picked up his ninth RBI over the last seven games with a run-scoring single in the third.
Bradley gave up six runs and eight hits over 4 1/3 innings in losing his third consecutive start. The right-hander had gone 5-0 in eight starts prior to the current skid.
Tampa Bay’s Taylor Walls tripled in the third when right fielder Pedro León overran his fly ball down the line and scored on José Caballero’s sacrifice fly.
Walls, who entered hitting, .153, also doubled off Valdez in the fifth.
The Rays have lost five of seven to drop back to .500 at 59-59.
Houston's Jose Altuve had two hits and moved past Jeff Bagwell into second place in franchise history with 623 multi-hit games. Only Craig Biggio, with 841, has more.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Justin Verlander (neck) will make his second minor league rehab start this week and could rejoin the rotation after that.
UP NEXT
Astros LHP Yusei Kikuchi (5-9, 4.62 ERA) and Rays RHP Shane Baz (0-1. 4.30 ERA) are Tuesday night’s starters. Kikuchi is 1-0 with 19 strikeouts over 11 innings in two starts with Houston since being acquired from Toronto.
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Sep 18, 2024, 7:37 am
With only a dozen games left in the regular season, the playoff matchups the Astros could find themselves in are becoming clear.
It's looking more likely that Houston will be hosting either the Tigers, Twins, or Mariners.
Out of these three teams, which club gives the Astros the best chance to move on to the next round?
The Twins may have a winning record (4-2) against the 'Stros this season, but over the last 30 days, they haven't been playing well.
They are 28th in team ERA (4.96), and 21st in team OPS (.676). The Mariners and Tigers are much better than Minnesota in both categories. It's important to pay attention to how teams are playing as the regular season comes to an end.
But there are other factors to consider. Carlos Correa is back from injury, and the Twins have some big arms that have given the Astros trouble in the past.
This is one video you don't want to miss as we examine the Astros potential playoff matchups and try to determine which team would give Houston the best shot to advance to the divisional series.
*Catch our weekly Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast. Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo discuss varied Astros topics. The first post for the week generally goes up Monday afternoon (second part released Tuesday) via The SportsMap HOU YouTube channel or listen to episodes in their entirety at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.