Houston wins their third straight

Garcia's terrific start helps lift Astros over Red Sox

Astros' Luis Garcia
Luis Garcia had a terrific start Tuesday night. Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images.

Luis Garcia had a terrific start Tuesday night.

After taking the first game of this series in a lopsided win, the Astros tried to make it three-straight wins on Tuesday night. They would do just that, getting an outstanding performance from Luis Garcia, backing him up with runs to get the victory.

Final Score: Astros 5, Red Sox 1

Astros' Record: 30-24, first in the AL West

Winning Pitcher: Luis Garcia (4-3)

Losing Pitcher: Garrett Richards (4-4)

Houston grabs a lead, Garcia holds it with a quality start

Unlike the series opener, Tuesday's game was a much lower-scoring affair between Boston and Houston. The Astros jumped out in front first, getting a leadoff solo home run by Jose Altuve to start things off in the bottom of the first. Houston doubled the lead in the fourth, getting a sac fly from Chas McCormick to make it 2-0.

That lead was managed well by Luis Garcia, who tossed a terrific game, his second-straight quality start. He allowed just one hit and one walk through the first four innings but then gave up a run in the fifth on two hits to cut the lead in half at 2-1. He followed that up with two more scoreless innings, erasing a hit in each, giving him seven innings of one-run ball to keep his team in front, and leaving just two innings for Houston's bullpen. His final line: 7.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 106 P.

Houston takes game two

Houston put the lead back to two runs in the bottom of the seventh, getting two on base with a run coming across on a should-be double-play turned error, allowing the lead to grow to 3-1. They went on to load the bases, bringing in two more runs on a walk by Carlos Correa and a single by Yordan Alvarez, making it 5-1.

Brooks Raley was first out of Houston's bullpen in the top of the eighth, doing his job by sitting down the Red Sox 1-2-3. Ryne Stanek came in to finish things off in the top of the ninth and would get it done to wrap up the victory. The win moves Houston to six games above .500 and gives them a chance to secure this series if they can get their fourth-straight win on Wednesday.

Up Next: These teams will meet for another 7:10 PM Central start for game three of this four-game series on Wednesday night. Framber Valdez (0-0, 2.25 ERA) will make his second start of the year for the Astros, hoping to build upon some strengths his first time out, while Boston will send Nick Pivetta (6-0, 3.86 ERA) out to try and keep his undefeated record.

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Houston will have to lean on Altuve and Paredes with Peña on the IL. Composite Getty Image.

Fresh off their 50th win of the season, the Houston Astros begin a three-game series in Colorado on Tuesday night, looking to stay hot against a Rockies team still searching for answers.

Houston enters the matchup atop the AL West with a 50–34 record, having won seven of its last 10 games. Though the Astros haven’t been as sharp on the road — just 18–20 away from home — their pitching and power-hitting combo continues to give opponents fits. Isaac Paredes leads the team with 17 home runs, and when Houston clears the fences multiple times in a game, the results speak for themselves: an 18–5 record when hitting two or more homers.

Victor Caratini has quietly chipped in during this recent stretch, going 8-for-33 with three home runs and eight RBIs over the last 10 games, helping make up for some offensive inconsistency. Houston’s team batting average over that span sits at just .225.

Left-hander Colton Gordon takes the mound Tuesday, carrying a 3-1 record and 3.98 ERA into his ninth start of the year. He’ll face a Colorado offense that’s scuffled all season, particularly at home. The Rockies have managed just eight wins in 40 games at Coors Field and are riding a 2–8 skid. Rookie righty Chase Dollander (2-8, 6.06 ERA) gets the start for Colorado as he looks to slow down a Houston team that has found different ways to win.

While Hunter Goodman and Mickey Moniak have provided some spark for the Rockies at the plate, the team has been outscored by 26 runs over the past 10 games and owns one of the league’s worst pitching staffs, a troubling combo against an Astros club that doesn’t need many openings to take control.

This will be the first meeting between the two teams this season. For Houston, it’s a chance to keep momentum rolling against the team with MLB’s worst record. For Colorado, it’s another test in a season full of them.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -173, Rockies +144; over/under is 11 1/2 runs

Astros news

Shay Whitcomb has been recalled from Sugar Land to take Pena's place on the roster.

Here's a preview of the Astros lineup for Game 1.

So what stands out? With Peña unavailable, manager Joe Espada is once again using Paredes to leadoff, followed by Jake Meyers in the two-spot. Caratini is hitting fifth and will serve as the DH. He's followed by Yainer Diaz and Christian Walker. Cooper Hummel will hit eighth and play left field, as Jose Altuve is playing second base. Mauricio Dubon will hit ninth and fill in for Peña at shortstop.


Image via: MLB.com/Screenshot.

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