CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR
World Champion Houston Astros visit the White House in style
Aug 7, 2023, 5:42 pm
CHAMPIONSHIP TOUR
The Houston Astros flashed some championship swagger on Monday, August 7 as they made their second trip to the White House since 2017 to celebrate a World Series title.
Our gents who normally don the orange and blue unis stepped out in some killer suits — and kicks — as they made the trip to Washington D.C. to meet President Joe Biden. All Star Alex Bregman rocked some H-Town-worthy, red and yellow Jordans (a nod to the Houston Rockets) with his suit. And speaking of suits, Justin Verlander — who just returned to the team via a deadline-edging trade — was truly on-season and on-theme with his gold/khaki custom summer number.
Super slugger Yordan Alvarez — a strapping six-foot-five and clad in steel-blue custom suit and shades — looked every part the steely Secret Service agent.
Fans have been all over the team on Instagram and Facebook as our guys arrived in D.C. and strolled into the White House like total ballers.
At the official ceremony, President Biden congratulated the team and listed their many accomplishments during their second World Series run that saw the team topple the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies (Biden joked that he wouldn't be able to return to Philly after noting the loss.)
He also spotlighted star shortstop Jeremy Peña for his historic title as the first rookie position player to win the World Series MVP award. Peña, for his part, sheepishly raised his hand and flashed that million-dollar smile.
President Biden then congratulated and welcomed the Astros manager with a generous, “...and this is not hyperbole — the legendary Dusty Baker,” pointing out that the legend and Major League Baseball elder statesman won his first World Series title as a manager with the Astros.
“People counted you out saying you’re past your prime—I know a little something about that,” Biden said with a chuckle. The room, full of team staff, Houston elected officials, and more, erupted in laughter.
Biden also recognized the Astros off the field for “raising awareness for things near and dear to my heart,” such as domestic violence, children battling cancer, and Winter Storm Uri.
In a poignant moment, the president turned away from the podium mic to thank team owner Jim Crane and the team personally for their unforgettable efforts after the Uvalde tragedy through the Astros Foundation, which even included a special game-day experience.
“You played ball in the park with them,” he said with a tone of reverence and gratitude, adding that such time, “validates in a way I don’t think you really understand. You’re an impressive group of men. You really are.“
Crane, afterwards, thanked the president, team, and staff “from the announcers to the guys who clean the stadium.”
“I parked cars with that guy when I was 16,” Crane noted, pointing to Astros senior manager of parking Gary Rowberry. Always gracious with fans, Crane thanked them, noting that they “pay the bills.”
Welcomed by whoops and hollers, Baker, thanked his World Series-champion team, calling them, “the greatest guys I’ve been around.” Baker spotlighted his team's “perseverance” and that what he feels is their best quality: “they genuinely love each other... and I love them all.”
Baker, before the World Series jersey presentation to President Biden, then made a promise that's music to every Astros fans who wants to watch this ceremony again next year: “We plan on repeating.”
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.
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.