Different venue, different result. Astros 6. Giants 3. It took extra innings, it took perseverance, and it took Jeremy Pena breaking out of a 0-24 slump. It also took a three-hit night from Cam Smith. The change of scenery from Petco to Oracle made all the difference as the offense finally showed some signs of life in front of 28,070.
For the first time in ten games, Houston would score in the opening frame to start things. Yordan Alvarez recorded his 60th extra base hit, hitting a double before Isaac
Paredes moved him over to third with a single. Jose Altuve would bring in Alvarez on a sac fly making it 1-0. The next run would come off the bat of Cam Smith who would leave the yard, jacking his 16th of the year in the 7th. In the top of the 9th, Cam would weave some more magic, singling to right field which brought in pinch runner Nick Allen. Cam would go 3-4 on the night, driving in a pair.
Hayden Wesneski would cruise until the bottom of the fourth. Bryce Eldridge reached on a double. Rafael Devers followed that up with a walk and Oslevivis Basabe would single to load the bases. Drew Gilbert would notch his 23rd RBI of the season on a sac fly, tying things up at 1-1. Taylor Trammell would then make the defensive play of the night, making a spectacular play on a line out from Drew Cavanaugh to close out the inning. The Giants would strand a pair of runners.
However, the next pair of innings, the Giants would take Wesenski deep on multiple occasions. Jung Hoo Lee would hit his 9th homer of the year. That would be followed up by former Astros prospect, Drew Gilbert, who in the seventh went yard. Houston had plenty of opportunities during that window, including a bases loaded opportunity, but Christian Walker grounded out, stranding three. Even with the home runs, for all intents and purposes, Wesenski rendered a decent showing. His seven innings of work was the deepest a starter has gone in a game for Houston since Hunter Brown verses the White Sox on July 25th.
In the 10th inning, LaMonte Wade walked and went to second on a Pena single. They would each score on a clutch double from Isaac Parades. The bottom of 10th was arguably the best move Joe Espada has made this baseball season, sending out Josh Hader for a second inning of relief after previously vowing not to implement. Hader would dazzle, pitching a pair of scoreless innings, registering a pair of K’s.
Odds & Ends:
The Astros have now played 120 games this season, with a mark of 61-59. A year ago, the Astros were 67-53 at this stage.
Hunter Brown will look for his fourth win tomorrow night. First pitch will once again be 8:45pm CDT.
