Tonight, the Astros grasped for runs like a drowning man gasps for his last breath of air. The seven runs they scored in the first three innings equalled their total production in the last six games combined. The Astros are still alive with a beating heart, after all.
The Astros scored as many runs in the first inning as they had in the previous 37. It was all thanks to a two-run, Christian Walker home run, scoring Carlos Correa, who singled against Orioles starter Brandon Young.
The Astros doubled that run output in the second inning on a two-run RBI single by Correa, scoring Mauricio Dubon and Jacob Melton.
The Orioles got one back in their second on a Dylan Beavers solo shot to right field against Astros starter Jason Alexander.
But the Astros, so long deprived of the pleasure of crossing home plate, were not satisfied with a mere four runs. The third inning started with a Walker double and an RBI Jesus Sanchez single. Then Yainer Diaz unloaded his 18th homer, increasing the Astros lead to 7-1 and equalling the total team run production for the last six games.
After the second-inning homer, Alexander was cruising for the Astros until the sixth inning, when three one-out singles sent him to the showers. Steven Okert allowed one inherited run to score, on a groundout, but struck out second-inning O hero Beavers to extinguish the threat.
It was another quality performance for Alexander, who finished the night after 5.1 innings, allowing two runs, scattering eight hits with three Ks. Since June 17, Alexander has a 2.72 ERA. During a similar time period, Framber Valdez sits at 3.67 and Hunter Brown at an even 3.00.
On the other hand, the Orioles pitcher, who just last week took a perfect game against the Stros into the eighth inning, got clobbered today, allowing seven runs in 5.1 innings after leaving with an apparent ankle injury.
Jesus Sanchez accounted for five of the Astros’ 12 hits, and the Astros are two ahead of the Mariners for first place in the AL West, pending their game with the Athletics starting 9:10 CT.
The Astros have three more in Baltimore, including another tomorrow with Lance McCullers back on the mound.
