PHILLIES DEFEAT ASTROS
Astros stumble in extras, Phillies get the win 3-2
Aug 26, 2024, 9:28 pm
Astros lose in extra innings. Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images.
Bryce Harper hit a game-ending RBI single in the 10th inning off Houston closer Josh Hader, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Astros 3-2 in a matchup of division leaders on Monday night.
Brandon Marsh homered for Philadelphia, which won its third straight. The Phillies entered leading the NL East by six games over Atlanta, while Houston began play 4 1/2 games ahead of Seattle in the AL West.
“I thought we fought and kept after it,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.
Shay Whitcomb had a pair of RBIs for Houston, which defeated Philadelphia in the 2022 World Series.
With runners on first and second and no outs, Harper lined the first pitch he saw from Hader (6-7), a 96 mph sinker, to right field to score automatic runner Kyle Schwarber. Hader struck out the side in order in the ninth, finishing the inning by getting Schwarber looking on a sinker.
“Happy it got through and happy to win the game,” Harper said.
Matt Strahm (6-2) worked a scoreless 10th for Philadelphia. He got help on the final out from center fielder Johan Rojas, who made a diving catch to rob Yainer Diaz of a base hit that would have scored the automatic runner.
“He got a pretty good jump, and he closes on it as good as anybody,” Thomson said. “A lot of guys don't make that catch.”
Philadelphia scored 22 runs while winning a pair of games over the weekend at Kansas City. But the Astros limited the Phillies to Marsh’s fifth-inning, opposite-field drive off Ronel Blanco and Nick Castellanos’ RBI single in the sixth before Harper came through in extra innings.
Phillies players mobbed Harper after he rounded first base, celebrating a victory to start a seven-game homestand against the Astros and the Braves.
“Big at-bats by everybody and the bullpen did their job,” Harper said.
Whitcomb put Houston in front with a two-run, two-out single in the fourth off Zack Wheeler.
“Just one hit away, but our at-bats were really good,” Houston manager Joe Espada said.
Wheeler gave up six hits in six innings with six strikeouts and two walks.
“It's fun,” Wheeler said. “Two good teams going at it.”
Blanco lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Placed left-handed reliever José Alvarado on the restricted list for a personal matter. The 29-year-old Alvarado has a 4.30 ERA in 56 appearances this season. He has converted 13 of 16 save opportunities. Philadelphia recalled right-hander Michael Mercado from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
UP NEXT
Astros RHP Justin Verlander (3-3, 3.92 ERA) opposes Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (11-6, 3.45) as the series continues Tuesday night.
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Jason Heyward hit a two-run homer early and Jon Singleton had three hits, capped by a tiebreaking RBI single in Houston’s four-run eighth inning, and the Astros got a 6-3 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday.
SAY HEY!!#Relentless pic.twitter.com/fqAiUHHdNh
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 12, 2024
Brent Rooker homered off Ryan Pressly (2-3) with one out in the eighth to tie it at 2-all.
Yainer Diaz and Kyle Tucker hit consecutive singles with one out in the eighth to chase T.J. McFarland (2-3) and bring on Grant Holman. There were two outs in the inning when Singleton’s single to center field scored Diaz to put the Astros on top.
Jake Meyers followed with a run-scoring double before the Athletics intentionally walked Heyward to load the bases. Mauricio Dubón singled on a ground ball to left field to score two more, pushing the lead to 6-2.
Tyler Nevin hit a solo homer off Josh Hader with one out in the ninth before the closer retired the next two batters to end it.
Houston’s Framber Valdez allowed five hits and a run with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings to help the Astros avoid a three-game sweep and snap a three-game skid with the victory.
La Grasa had himself a day.#Relentless pic.twitter.com/LvGeKBAoqA
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 12, 2024
Oakland starter Mitch Spence permitted seven hits and two runs in seven innings.
Singleton hit a ground-rule double with one out in the second before Heyward smacked a line drive into the second row in right field for his first home run as an Astro to make it 2-0.
It was the third hit in 12 games with Houston for Heyward, who signed with the Astros Aug. 29 after being released by the Dodgers.
Jacob Wilson doubled to open the seventh and moved to third on a ground out by Nevin. The Athletics cut the lead to 1 when Wilson scored on a single by Daz Cameron that chased Valdez.
Bryan Abreu took over and pinch-hitter Seth Brown grounded into a double play on his second pitch to preserve the lead.
Lawrence Butler doubled with one out in the third to extend his career-long hitting streak to 20 games.
Singleton doubled again to start Houston’s fourth before Spence sat down the next 11 Astros. Houston’s next base runner came on a double by Dubón with two outs in the seventh and Alex Bregman grounded out to leave him stranded.
Trainer’s Room
Athletics: 1B Tyler Soderstrom (left wrist injury) is scheduled to come off the injured list Friday for the start of a series against the White Sox.
Astros: 2B Jose Altuve was out of the lineup Thursday, a day after leaving in the fifth inning with discomfort in his right side. Manager Joe Espada said he was feeling better Thursday and that he is listed as day to day.
Up Next
Athletics: LHP Brady Basso (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will start for Oakland against LHP Garrett Crochet (6-11, 3.83) in the opener of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox Friday night.
Astros: Houston LHP Yusei Kikuchi (8-9, 4.31) opposes LHP Samuel Aldegheri (1-1, 2.45) in the first of three games against the Los Angeles Angels Friday night.