FACTS NOT NOISE
How 7 years worth of evidence finally vindicated Houston Astros
Sep 1, 2023, 3:45 pm
How 7 years worth of evidence FINALLY vindicated Houston Astros
As we look back at the sign-stealing scandal and how things have played over the last several years, one thing is very clear. The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox benefited from the scandal way more than the Astros.
Almost seven seasons have now passed by, and only the Astros have been in the mix every year for a championship. Compare that to the Red Sox and Yankees, who are currently battling over which team will finish last in the AL East.
Alex Cora has always needed an edge to win a championship, like 2018 when he took the tactics he learned from Carlos Beltran in Houston, and used them to help win a championship with Boston.
Just recently, Astros starter JP France was tipping pitches and the Red Sox took advantage, tagging France for 10 earned runs. Just one week later, France made the adjustment and led the Astros to a victory over the BoSox allowing only two runs over 5.2 innings.
Plus, we discuss how the perception of Jose Altuve has changed in recent years.
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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.