STONE COLD 'STROS
Let's sift through the aftermath of Houston Astros domination of Rangers
Sep 7, 2023, 8:13 am
Sifting through the aftermath of Astros DOMINATION over Rangers!
Coming off an impressive sweep of the Texas Rangers in Arlington, the Astros return to Houston in first place in the AL West with a big series with the Padres looming.
The Astros have been road warriors this season, but they're going to have to recapture some of that magic at home over the next two series if they want to stay on top in their division.
So the question becomes, who are the Astros? Are they the road team that went into Boston and Arlington and came away with sweeps, or are they the club that got swept by the Yankees and the Mariners recently?
In reality, they have been both teams this year. More often than not, they have given back several games after going on a winning streak.
However, let's hope the Astros have now turned a corner, and they're falling back into their postseason form that's made them so successful over the last seven years.
Be sure to watch the video above as we discuss all the implications from the Astros huge series win over the Rangers, and what lies ahead.
Be sure to watch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) every Monday on SportsMap Houston's YouTube channel.
And listen to ESPN 97.5 and 92.5 FM for Houston's best sports talk.
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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.