BULLPEN BLOWS ANOTHER GAME
Astros' bullpen woes continue in series opening loss to Giants
Jun 11, 2024, 9:11 am
Giants defeat Astros 4-3 in extra innings. Composite Getty Image.
Austin Slater lined the game-winning single into left field with one out in the 10th inning, rallying the San Francisco Giants from two runs down in the inning to beat the Houston Astros 4-3 on Monday night.
Slater's second career game-winning hit came off Rafael Montero (1-2) after he also had one on April 8, 2022, against the Marlins. It did so much for Slater given his struggles with injuries and finding his hitting groove this season.
Slater just wished he could have notched his first extra-base hit of the year — but maybe this will give him some much-needed momentum going forward. He had popped up in foul territory as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.
“Whenever you can come through big for your team in a spot when you've been struggling it feels that much better,” said Slater, who just returned last week from a concussion. “It definitely lifted a big weight off my shoulders.”
Randy Rodríguez (2-1) recorded the final out of the 10th for the win.
Houston had gone ahead by two runs in the top half on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini that scored runner Joey Loperfido from second base and Alex Bregman’s RBI single.
The Astros challenged that Trey Cabbage was called out at first on a bunt against Erik Miller to begin the 10th and the call was overturned on replay review for a single.
Montero started the 10th and immediately gave up Brett Wisely's RBI single then Heliot Ramos singled when shortstop Jeremy Pena had to reach and booted his skipping grounder. Patrick Bailey followed with an RBI single that made it 3-3.
Mike Yastrzemski broke up a scoreless game with an RBI triple in the sixth inning only for the Astros to tie it on a sacrifice fly by Pena in the seventh.
Mauricio Dubon hit a two-out single in the ninth off Giants closer Camilo Doval that put the go-ahead run on second. But Doval struck out Jose Abreu to end the threat.
This marked Dubon's first visit back to Oracle Park since being traded by San Francisco to the Astros in May 2022.
“I love it, I like the guys,” he said before the game after catching up with former teammate Logan Webb on the field.
Astros starter Spencer Arrighetti allowed one run and four hits over 5 2/3 innings, striking out six with three walks.
San Francisco lefty Kyle Harrison retired the first nine Houston hitters in order before Jose Altuve's leadoff single in the fourth. Harrison was coming off back-to-back losing starts for the first time this season — allowing seven earned runs and 20 hits over 11 innings. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter over 6 1/3 innings this time, surrendering one run and four hits.
“This has been as efficient as he's been all year at this point in time,” manager Bob Melvin said.
San Francisco, currently facing interleague matchups for four of five series including a nine-game stretch against the Rangers, Astros and Angels, had homered in eight straight games dating to June 1.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Astros: C Yainer Diaz was held out of the starting lineup still dealing with a sore right index finger after taking a foul tip Sunday. His range of motion is still limited. ... RF Kyle Tucker, who went on the injured list Friday with a bruised right shin from fouling a ball off his leg last Monday, is improving as he uses crutches and could come off the IL when eligible Friday.
Giants: 3B Matt Chapman missed just his fourth start of the season because of a sore hamstring but is expected to return Tuesday. ... OF Jung Hoo Lee (left shoulder surgery) will begin his rehab program this week in San Francisco. ... LHP Blake Snell (strained left groin) is throwing off flat ground and likely to progress to the mound later in the week. ... INF Nick Ahmed (sprained left wrist) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Sacramento at Reno. ... RHP Alex Cobb (shoulder) will throw a bullpen Tuesday. ... INF Wilmer Flores is nursing knee soreness and could play again by Tuesday.
UP NEXT
RHP Ronel Blanco (5-2, 2.78 ERA) pitches Tuesday night for the Astros opposite RHP Jordan Hicks (4-2, 2.82).
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Expectations
The Texans are favored to win the AFC South for a third straight season with a team led by young stars quarterback C.J. Stroud and defensive end Will Anderson. Stroud’s strong first two years helped the Texans turn things around and this year they’ll try to reach the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time in franchise history. Stroud will be directing a new offense led by first-time offensive coordinator Nick Caley, who took over after Bobby Slowik was fired this offseason following Houston’s loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round. General manager Nick Caserio also beefed up the team’s receiving corps, led by Nico Collins, by adding veteran Christian Kirk and drafting Jayden Higgins in the second round and Jaylin Noel in the third. Coach DeMeco Ryans has vowed the offensive line will be better this season after Stroud was sacked 52 times last season, which was second-most in the league. But it’s difficult to see how his protection will be better after they traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and didn’t make any big moves to replace him. Defensively, Anderson should take another step forward in his second year playing with veteran Danielle Hunter after the third-overall pick in the 2023 draft had 17 sacks combined in his first two seasons. Cornerback Derek Stingley returns to lead a talented young secondary after earning first team AP All-Pro honors last season when he had five interceptions and defended 18 passes.
New faces
OC Nick Caley, WR Jayden Higgins, WR Christian Kirk, WR Jaylin Noel, LT Cam Robinson, RB Nick Chubb, RT Aireontae Ersery, LG Laken Tomlinson, C Jake Andrews.
Key losses
LT Laremy Tunsil, WR John Metchie III, G Kenyon Green, TE Brevin Jordan, CB Eric Murray, WR Robert Woods, CB Kris Boyd.
Strengths
Stroud and Houston’s stacked receiving group should be the stars of the team this season. The 2023 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year has been great in his first two seasons to bring the Texans back into contention after an awful stretch. His interception rate was up last season but he’s looking for improvement this season in Caley’s offense, which he has described as “exciting.” He’ll have plenty of strong targets to throw to, led by Collins, who had a second straight 1,000-yard season last year despite missing five games with injuries. He’ll be joined by Kirk, who should fill in at the slot with Tank Dell likely to miss all season recovering from an injury he suffered in December. Higgins and Noel come to Houston after combining for 2,377 yards receiving and 17 touchdowns last season at Iowa State.
Weaknesses
It’s hard to see how the offensive line will be improved this season with Tunsil gone to Washington. Though he was penalty-prone, he was the team’s most consistent lineman. They completely revamped the line after his trade and return just one starter from last year’s group. They’ll likely rely on rookie Ersery to protect Stroud’s blind side after taking him in the second round of the draft. He started 38 games at left tackle over three seasons at Minnesota. Veteran Tytus Howard returns at right tackle after starting 16 games there last season. The center is Jake Andrews in his first year in Houston and he returns after missing all of last season with an injury before being released by the Patriots. Left guard Laken Tomlinson and right guard Ed Ingram are also new to the team.
Camp development
Houston’s secondary sustained a big blow in camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a leg injury. The injury isn’t season-ending but he is likely to miss significant time. Gardner-Johnson is in his first year in Houston after he was acquired from the Eagles in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green. He was expected to be the team’s starting free safety after the Texans lost Eric Murray in free agency to the Jaguars. The Texans will also be without backup Jimmie Ward indefinitely after he was placed on the commissioner exempt list Tuesday as he faces a felony domestic violence charge after a June arrest.
Fantasy player to watch
Collins should have another big year after finishing with more than 1,000 yards receiving in each of the last two seasons. He’s had 15 touchdowns combined in the last two seasons despite missing seven games with injuries.
BetMGM Sportsbook
Win Super Bowl: 35-1.