The Astros take their tenth out of the last eleven games, stay four games out front in first in the AL West
This recap is easy.
In a game when the Astros were without the services of sluggers, Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and The Yordan, the Astros had to rely on production from the only two real major league hitters left in the lineup, Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz.
Diaz clubbed a solo homer in the sixth inning. It was all that Framber Valdez and the Astros bullpen would need as the Astros pulled out another win thanks to superb pitching.
Yainer bomb gets us going!#Relentless pic.twitter.com/SNOdNriBwI
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 18, 2024
Valdez gave the Stros seven strong innings, allowing only three hits with nine strikeouts. Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader completed the shutout with the help of a little cushion provided by Jose Altuve’s solo homer in the eighth inning.
Altuve sends a souvenir to the Crawford Boxes!#Relentless pic.twitter.com/NXgizSl0zv
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 18, 2024
This season is starting to look like a miracle, and the rest of MLB surely wants to know what kind of witchcraft or incantation has caused the born again transformation of the Astros’ pitching staff.
The Astros take on the Red Sox at MMP tomorrow at 7:10 CT.