Astros Collect A Season-High 20 Hits, Win 10-4 Over Angels

You know it is a good night at the plate when the lineup collects a hit in nearly 42% of their plate appearances. 20 hits across 48 plate appearances against Reid Detmers and company. 10 runs total. With a lineup that has struggled at times for consistency to score runs, it was a nice break from that kind of worry and heartburn.

The game felt, more or less, over by the third inning when the Astros jumped to an early 7-1 lead. One run in the first followed by two in the second provided some hope that the lineup wouldn’t miss a beat. Four runs in the third inning put Houston in a strong position for the rest of the game. As was the case on Friday, most of the regulars had at least one hit. Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker each collected four hits each. Yainer Díaz, Jeremy Peña, Victor Caratini, Jake Meyers, and Mauricio Dubón all had two hits individually, with Jose Altuve limited to one while Alex Bregman went hitless in his five plate appearances. Three home runs — Alvarez, Tucker, and Caratini — in total helped drive this offense. It was Caratini’s three-run blast in the third inning that truly blew this game open for Houston.

The Astros would tack on another run in the fourth and two more to drive the final tally to ten runs, but, again, the game was essentially decided following that third inning as long as the pitching staff held up its end of the bargain. Well, they did with Ronel Blanco setting the tone.

As it currently stands, it feels like either Blanco or Spencer Arrighetti is the likely fourth starter in a postseason series if the Astros reach that point. I mean, Justin Verlander isn’t pitching well enough to start a postseason game, and both Blanco and Arrighetti have done plenty this season to earn that opportunity. This last turn or two through the rotation for the trio could ultimately decide their roles in the postseason, or at least solidify the club’s position about them. In Blanco’s case, he continued to make his case against the Angels, holding the opposing lineup to two runs and seven hits across six innings, striking out nine while walking just two. 17 whiffs on 49 swings, with 11 of those whiffs occurring with his slider on 21 swings.

Kaleb Ort and Caleb Fergurson combined for two scoreless innings of relief, striking out five while allowing no hits. Seth Martinez ran into a bit of trouble in the ninth, allowing two runs. But, all in all, it was a relatively stress-free game for the Astros. Not only did the lineup have another strong game, albeit against the worst team in the AL West, but the pitching staff for the most part looked solid. Ort and Fergurson, for example, are in line to possibly pitch some key innings in the postseason, especially if Tayler Scott isn’t available following his recent placement on the IL.

Ultimately, the Astros’ lead over the Mariners for the AL West remains five games as the latter won against the Rangers on Saturday evening. The magic number, however, is now three games for Houston to clinch their fourth consecutive division title, with Monday against Seattle being the earliest it can now occur.