Houston is on a roll
Astros secure series over White Sox with sixth straight win
Jun 19, 2021, 9:27 pm
Houston is on a roll
Houston's offense helped extend the Astros winning streak Saturday night.
With the exciting walk-off win thanks to Yordan Alvarez in the bottom of the ninth in game two, Houston had a 2-0 grip on this series, looking to secure the series with a win on Saturday night. They'd get it done, thanks to more offensive success, grabbing their sixth straight game.
Final Score: Astros 7, White Sox 3
Astros' Record: 42-28, second in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Framber Valdez (4-0)
Losing Pitcher: Lance Lynn (7-3)
The early goings gave the impression that this one may go down to the wire again, with Houston and Chicago grinding out one run each through two and a half innings. Houston's game in the bottom of the first, as Jose Altuve would reach on an error, move to third on a single, then score on a wild pitch. Chicago tied things up in the top of the third against Framber Valdez, getting a two-out single followed by an RBI double to make it 1-1.
Robel Garcia unloads the bases for the Astros and they now lead 5-1 ☄️ pic.twitter.com/K03RAYD6Ib
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 20, 2021
Houston would not leave the game tied for long, getting back in front on an RBI single by Michael Brantley in the bottom of the third. They went on to load the bases, setting up a big three-RBI double by Robel Garcia to push the lead to 5-1. They added another in the bottom of the next inning, with Brantley getting his second RBI in as many innings on a double to make it 6-1.
Valdez kept rolling along on the mound or Houston, rebounding from the one-run third to erase a walk in the fourth, getting a 1-2-3 fifth, then erasing another walk in the sixth to keep it 6-1. Chicago would finally get to him in the top of the seventh, getting a solo home run to start the frame, then later watching a single score after a flyout and throwing error moved the runner around. That would be the end of Valdez's night, still an overal success: 7.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 108 P.
Now a 6-3 game, Ryne Stanek game in for the top of the eighth to try and keep it there. Although he'd deal with traffic on two singles, he'd accomplish his mission. Carlos Correa added an insurance run in the bottom half, getting an opposite-field solo homer to make it 7-3. With Ryan Pressly already warm, he would come in for the top of the ninth to close things out, sitting down Chicago 1-2-3 to wrap up the victory, which gives Houston the series and makes it six games in a row.
Up Next: The Astros will look to complete the four-game sweep in the finale at 1:10 PM Central on Sunday. It'll be a matchup of friends and old teammates, as Dallas Keuchel (6-1, 3.78) for Chicago will make his first start against his former team, while Lance McCullers Jr. (3-1, 2.89 ERA) will take the mound for Houston.
Nolan Arenado homered and Brendan Donovan went 4 for 4, helping Sonny Gray and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Houston Astros 8-3 on Monday night.
Arenado also doubled twice and scored two runs in the opener of a three-game series. Donovan extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Gray (3-0) pitched seven scoreless innings. He allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one.
The Cardinals have won Gray's last eight home starts dating to last season.
Astros left-hander Framber Valdez (1-2) was tagged for seven runs — six earned — in four-plus innings. Five of the 10 hits he allowed were doubles.
Arenado hit a solo drive off Luis Contreras in the eighth. It was his second homer of the season.
The Cardinals broke it open with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Pedro Pagés hit a two-run double to make it 3-0 in the fourth. Nolan Gorman's sacrifice fly extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth.
Donovan scored twice and drove in a run. He is batting an NL-high .391.
Houston's Jeremy Peña hit a three-run homer off Roddery Muñoz with two outs in the ninth.
Arenado drove in the first run in the fifth. He fouled off four straight offerings in a 10-pitch at-bat before ripping an RBI double to left.
Gray set the tone when he retired Jose Altuve, Isaac Paredes and Yordan Alvarez in order in the first inning. The Astros’ only hit off Gray through five was catcher Yainer Diaz’s infield single in the second.
Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (1-1, 2.00 ERA) starts on Tuesday night. Right-hander Erick Fedde (1-1, 4.50 ERA) makes his fourth start for the Cardinals.