FAILURE TO LAUNCH
Rockets are expected to play Thunder without several key starters
Dec 23, 2020, 1:24 pm
The Rockets are already off to a rocky start. Photo by Getty Images.
Rockets roll the dice on big name in free agency
Not only will the Rockets likely be without James Harden in their first game of the season because of his alleged appearance at a club while not wearing a mask, now Shams Charania is reporting that John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins aren't expected to play due to contact tracing.
Several Houston Rockets, including John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and possibly more, are expected to miss tonight's season opener vs. OKC due to coronavirus contact tracing, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 23, 2020
Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the contact tracing is connected to rookie KJ Martin. The Rockets will need to lean on Eric Gordon, Christian Wood, and PJ Tucker when they face the Thunder on Wednesday night. Houston has yet to play a game and the drama is already building.
Promising rookie forward Jae'Sean Tate is among the group of Rockets sent home due to contact tracing, per source. https://t.co/BEdU3HNrEG
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 23, 2020
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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.