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3 compelling factors that could make all the difference for Astros in Game 2
Oct 12, 2022, 3:38 pm
Yordan Alvarez was the difference in Game 1.Photo by Christopher Pasatieri/Getty Images
JJ - Yordan DH
The Astros sure know how to keep you on your toes! They pulled off an improbable comeback beating the Mariners 8-7 thanks to a walk-off homer by Yordan Alvarez. Down 7-5, bottom of the ninth inning with Christian Vazquez, Mauricio Dubon, and Jose Altuve due up. Vazquez grounded out to short, David Hensley pinch hit for Dubon and got on with a hit-by-pitch. Jake Meyers pinch ran for Hensley. Altuve struck out swinging. That is where I got nervous. Sure, he's had a rough go of it, but Altuve is still a professional hitter. Clutch situations are his thing. From there, it got really good. Especially considering the future of this franchise.
Jeremy Peña came up with two outs and singled to center moving Meyers over to second base. That set the stage for Alvarez's massive 438-foot homer to send fans home happy! This was the first time in 49 tries that the Astros have come back after trailing in the eighth inning or later by multiple runs. It was also the first walk-off homer in postseason history with a team trailing by multiple runs. With those significant firsts, it's still only the second walk-off homer with a team down to its final out. The other was pretty significant as well: Kirk Gibson's game one walk-off in the 1988 World Series.
While it's awesome to see all this happen, it wouldn't have been necessary if Justin Verlander pitched better, or if the bats woke up earlier. I remember when "fans" were saying they were nervous about this Mariners team. Mariners honks made shirts saying they're a problem, mocking the infamous statement associated with Houston. Well guess what? SUCK IT! That team needs to know its role and shut their mouths! Astros OWN the AL West and rent is past due!
3 factors to watch for in Game 2
1) In game two of this series, the Mariners will send Luis Castillo to the mound. He had an 8-6 record with a 2.99 ERA this season. On away games, he's 4-5 with a 3.29 ERA. He has the pleasure of trying to match up against Framber Valdez. He with a 17-6 record and 2.82 ERA. One could argue Framber should be in the Cy Young discussion this season over game one starter Justin Verlander. I mean, he set a record (25) for most consecutive quality starts (six or more innings, allowing three or less runs) this year. So there's that.
2) Keep in mind: that comeback was no accident. The Mariners' bullpen throws sliders 44% of the time. That's the highest rate in MLB. If Framber can deliver another quality start or something close to it, the bats should get to Castillo. If not, they can attack that bullpen again. I fully expect Astros' manager Dusty Baker to continue pulling all the right strings in game two. He led this team to 106 wins this season, despite many calls for his head.
3) Another thing to look at is the Mariners' record against the Astros this season. At a paltry 7-12 with a run differential of -8, I don't think there's much to be scared of. Do they play the Astros tough? They sure do. Should Astro fans be worried? Absolutely not. When your team is more talented and your manager makes all the right moves, there's not much to be worried about. Highly doubt they pitch to Yordan again in a high leverage situation. That's fine because someone else will step up. Astros in three.
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NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.