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How the Hector Neris incident has much bigger Astros implications
Sep 28, 2023, 1:34 pm
With the season on the line, the Houston Astros went into Seattle and took two out of three from the Mariners. Dusty Baker and the 'Stros control their own destiny with three games remaining against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Wednesday's finale was giving off playoff vibes for sure, and it was touch and go for a while, with Framber Valdez pitching only 4 innings before Baker went to his bullpen.
The big news story from the game occurred in the 6th inning when Hector Neris talked some smack to Julio Rodriguez after striking out him out to end the inning.
Benches cleared, and after the game, Mariners third baseman Eduardo Suarez alleged that Neris used a homophobic slur in Spanish aimed at Rodriguez. Rodriguez left the stadium before the media was allowed in the locker room after the game.
Whether that's true or not is up for debate, Neris said he's friends with Rodriguez and said basically told him he won that matchup. Either way, the altercation seemed to give the Astros a jolt heading into the next inning.
With one out, Alex Bregman got things going with a hit to right field that Teoscar Hernandez misplayed, allowing Bregman to get to third. The Astros tacked on three runs in the inning, finally manufacturing offense to give Houston some cushion.
After that the bullpen shut the door and the club came away with the win.
Editor's note: Hector Neris released a statement Thursday denying the use of a homophobic slur:
A statement from Hector Neris pic.twitter.com/nJVMPWp94k
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 28, 2023
Astros implications moving forward
Which makes us question, was this altercation the spark the team needed to go on another deep playoff run?
Plus, we have to mention Michael Brantley returning to action and recording 4 hits on Wednesday night. Could he be a key weapon moving forward for Dusty and company?
Be sure to watch the video above for the full conversation.
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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.