Houston pulled ahead late
McCullers Jr. deals, Astros pull out the win over Angels
May 11, 2021, 9:46 pm
Houston pulled ahead late
After watching the Angels come from behind to win the opener on Monday night, the Astros returned to Minute Maid Park Tuesday night to try and even the series to set up a chance to win it on Wednesday in the finale. After an enticing pitching matchup kept the game very close late into the game, Houston would pull ahead in the eighth inning to get the win.
Final Score: Astros 5, Angels 1
Astros' Record: 19-17, second in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Lance McCullers Jr. (3-1)
Losing Pitcher: Aaron Slegers (2-1)
As expected, the two starting pitchers on Tuesday night provided most of the excitement in the game's early goings. Shohei Ohtani allowed just two hits and no runs over the first four frames, with Lance McCullers Jr. doing slightly better by allowing just one hit over the same span. The first run of the night came off the bat of Kyle Tucker, who launched an opposite-field solo home run to the Crawford Boxes to put the Astros in front 1-0.
Oppo Taco Tuesday! 🌮#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/zNhuVc4kPJ
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 12, 2021
That proved to be a critical hit, as that would be the only run scored through seven innings as both Ohtani and McCullers Jr. settled in to keep it a 1-0 game. McCullers Jr. returned in the top of the eighth hunting a complete-game shutout but would see the game tied on a one-out solo home run by Taylor Ward, though he would finish the inning without any more damage. That would be it for him, posting an excellent final line: 8.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 96 P.
Piña Power. 🍍#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/lJA9FkLHJu
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 12, 2021
Ohtani's night would end at seven innings, with the Angels moving to their bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. Houston would take advantage, getting runners on base to set up Michael Brantley for a go-ahead RBI single. With two runners still on, Yuli Gurriel would provide the exclamation point on the inning, adding some major insurance with a three-run homer to extend the new lead to 5-1. Ryan Pressly would take over in the top of the ninth, getting a 1-2-3 inning to finish off the win to even the series, setting up a rubber game in the finale.
Up Next: The third and final game of this series will be another 7:10 PM Central start on Wednesday. Jose Urquidy (3-2, 3.51 ERA) will take the hill for the Astros, while Andrew Heaney (1-2, 4.11 ERA) will start for Los Angeles.
According to multiple reports, Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker has been traded to the Cubs. It appears that the Juan Soto contract added to growing concern that the club would not be able to reach agreement with Tucker long-term.
In return for Tucker, the Astros receiver infielder Isaac Parades, pitcher Hayden Wesneski, and 3rd base prospect Cam Smith.
Kyle Tucker to the Cubs for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith is done, pending medicals, sources tell @TheAthletic
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) December 13, 2024
Parades can play both 3rd and 1st base, but his best position is 3rd, per Chandler Rome. Parades is 25 years old and hit .238 last season with 19 home runs and was an All-Star. His best season was in 2023, he blasted 31 dingers and had an OPS of .840.
He will be a free agent in 2028 and is a perfect fit for the Crawford Boxes, as he's a pull hitter.
Only two players in MLB had a higher pull rate than Isaac Paredes in 2024: Jose Altuve and Rhys Hoskins. His swing is made for the Crawford Boxes.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 12, 2024
Chandler Rome recently reported that Wesneski is a pitcher that "very much intrigued the Astros." He pitched out of the bullpen and started seven games for the Cubs last year, posting a 3.86 ERA over 67.2 innings. He also spent some time pitching for Triple A in 2024. Wesneski went to Cy-Fair high school in Houston, and is under team control for the next several years.
Smith is a 3rd base prospect that was drafted 14th overall out of Florida State in the 2024 draft. He hit .313 overall in three different levels of the minors last season.
That Cubs' MLB Pipeline #7 prospect immediately becomes Astros #1 sums up sorry state of the Astros' system (Cubs' system is good at least).
Paredes is legit 3B (offensively as good as Breg over last 2 years) and will make maybe 3 mil in '25.
Good day for Mariners/Rangers fans.
— Charlie Pallilo (@Pallilo) December 13, 2024