Astros Come Home on a High Note. Avenge the As 8-1

Balanced attack spearheaded by Altuve’s three hits and another Hunter Brown gem keep the Stros on top in the West

Behind a strong performance by their newfound ace, the Astros slugged their way out of a three game skid today and somehow leave Oakland better than they entered, one game ahead of the Mariners for first place in the AL West.

The Astros equaled their run total from the last two games in the first two innings, scoring a run on JP Sears in the first on a Yainer Diaz sac fly plating Jose Altuve, and a run in the second on an Altuve RBI single. (Altuve ended the inning with a tootblan at second).

The Stros added runs in the fifth and the sixth. Chas McCormick smacked a solo homer to deep center to make the score 3-1, and Jeremy Pena’s RBI single in the sixth extended the lead to 4-1.

Meanwhile Astros starter Hunter Brown continued his recent streak of dominant pitching. Although the As got a run in the first, Hunter held the As scoreless for the next five innings, working around eight hits while striking out eight. The sixth inning typified Brown’s outing, putting runners on first and second with no outs but escaping unscathed after a double play and a strike out. The As finished the day 1-8 with runners in scoring position.

The Astros blew the game open in the seventh inning against Kyle Muller. A single, a hit by pitch, back-to-back doubles down the left field line by Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman, and a sac fly resulted in four runs.

Bryan Abreu, Tay Scott, and Bryan King held the As in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings respectively.

The Angels beat Mariners 2-1, scoring two runs in the eighth to go ahead.

The Astros are off tomorrow and face the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday.

Box Score HERE.