The Guards would get off to a quick start with 2 of the first 3 hitters getting singles, but Bazzana and Rocchio would be stranded after back to back strikeouts by Hoskins and Schneemann. In the bottom half of the inning, the Astros would get on the board first. After the first 2 hitters were out, Christian Walker would draw a walk and come around to score on a throwing error by Khalil Watson in RF after Isaac Paredes singled. Bibee was able to strike out Altuve to end the inning and keep the score at 1-0.
After an uneventful 2nd inning, the Guards would tie the game on doubles by Bazzana and Rocchio and then take the lead on a 2 run homer by Rhys Hoskins. Houston would get 1 back in the bottom half of the 3rd on a solo shot by Jeremy Peña, making it a 3-2 game.
The score would remain 3-2 until the bottom half of the 6th inning. After issuing a leadoff walk to Yordan Alvarez and getting Walker to line out (on a nice jumping catch by Watson in right-center field), a ground ball single to RF by Paredes would spell the end of the night for Tanner Bibee. Matt Festa came on in relief and gave up the go ahead 3 run home run to Jose Altuve.
The Astros would tack on 2 more in the 7th on Jeremy Peña’s second home run of the game and a 2 out RBI double by Altuve off Daniel Espino. Erik Sabrowski would make his return in the 8th. He would only retire one batter and give up 2 runs. The 2nd run was surrendered by Shawn Armstrong, who came on in relief for Sabrowski. Armstrong would get out of the inning, only surrendering the one hit that scored the second run.
The Guardians offense could not muster any more runs, and 9-3 was the final score.
The Guards will look to even the series in Houston Saturday night, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15pm Eastern time. It will be Joey Cantillo on the mound for the Guards, taking on Spencer Arrighetti for the Astros.
