Houston Astros Archives - Digital Sports Desk https://digitalsportsdesk.com/tag/houston-astros/ Online Destination for the Best in Boston Sports Tue, 19 Aug 2025 12:18:16 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/IMG_0364-2-150x150.jpg Houston Astros Archives - Digital Sports Desk https://digitalsportsdesk.com/tag/houston-astros/ 32 32 Red Sox: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back https://digitalsportsdesk.com/red-sox-one-step-forward-two-steps-back/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=red-sox-one-step-forward-two-steps-back Thu, 14 Aug 2025 13:00:13 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=8111 Buehler allowed four runs on four hits and four walks, with three strikeouts, over six innings.

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HOUSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Houston’s starting pitcher Hunter Brown threw 6 2/3 strong innings and his battery-mate Yainer Diaz drove in three runs as the Astros beat the visiting Boston Red Sox, 4-1, on Wednesday in the rubber match of the three-game series.

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Brown (10-5) snapped a six-start winless streak by producing his 15th quality start of the season. Diaz finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and an RBI single to pace the Houston offense.

The Astros scored two runs against Red Sox starter Walker Buehler (7-7) in the bottom of the first inning. Jeremy Pena led off the frame with his 13th homer, drilling a 3-1 fastball 358 feet out to left field. Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini then worked walks before Diaz lined the first pitch he saw to left for an RBI double.

Buehler then found his stride. He retired Ramon Urias to strand two runners and initiate a stretch in which he retired 15 of 16 batters, needing only four pitches to complete the bottom of the fifth.

But after retiring Altuve and Christian Walker to open the sixth, Buehler issued a four-pitch walk to Caratini before Diaz struck again, blasting a 415-foot homer to left-center, his 17th homer of the season, to extend the lead to three runs.

Buehler allowed four runs on four hits and four walks, with three strikeouts, over six innings.

Brown retired the Red Sox in order in the first but scuffled an inning later, allowing four baserunners as Boston sliced its two-run deficit in half. Trevor Story, who reached on a leadoff double, scored on Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-out single to center field.

Brown eluded further trouble with a strikeout of Connor Wong then retired the side in order in the third and fifth innings and stranded Jarren Duran at third to cap the sixth. Brown allowed one run on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

Bennett Sousa relieved Brown with two outs in the seventh and struck out Roman Anthony to end that frame. Bryan Abreu notched his first save while stranding a pair of runners in the ninth.

–Field Level Media

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Red Sox Face Astros in Rubber Game https://digitalsportsdesk.com/sox-astros/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sox-astros Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:00:57 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=8108 Right-hander Walker Buehler (7-6, 5.40) has the starting assignment for Boston on Wednesday.

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After the Houston Astros welcomed back Cristian Javier to their starting rotation on Monday following a 15-month absence due to Tommy John surgery, All-Star closer Josh Hader took his place on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder discomfort.

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Astros manager Joe Espada was non-committal when asked who would replace Hader at the back end of the bullpen. Right-hander Bryan Abreu seems the logical choice given his role setting up Hader, but Espada remains open to utilizing multiple options.

It’s uncertain how that may shake out on Wednesday when the Astros host the Boston Red Sox in the rubber match of their three-game series.

“For me, and I was talking to the relievers about this, for Josh Hader to be how successful he’s been, he needs guys to give him the ball with the lead,” Espada said. “All these guys have set him up to be the closer that he is. Not to take anything away from Josh. Josh is probably the best. But you need guys to help him get to that point, and these guys are capable of doing that. What you guys saw (Monday) with us piecing it together, we’re going to have to do more of that.

“I told them to be ready to go, and they’ve been ready to go the whole entire season. We have the weapons to do it.”

Right-hander Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.51 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale for the Astros, one day after the team dropped a 14-1 decision.

Brown did not factor into the decision of a 5-3 road victory over the New York Yankees on Friday after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. He remained winless over his last six starts and is 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA during that stretch.

Among American League pitchers, Brown ranks first in hits per nine innings (6.21), second in opponent OPS (.571), and third in ERA and strikeouts (160).

Brown is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. He did not factor into the decision of a 2-1 road loss on Aug. 1 after surrendering one run on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts over seven innings.

Right-hander Walker Buehler (7-6, 5.40) has the starting assignment for Boston on Wednesday.

Buehler twirled six shutout innings in a 10-2 road win over the San Diego Padres on Friday, allowing four hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts.

He is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA over his last six starts. Before that stretch. Buehler had dropped five of six decisions while recording a 9.29 ERA.

Buehler is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA over four career starts against Houston. He did not factor into the decision of a 7-3 win over the Astros on Aug. 2 after allowing three runs on nine hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora started Abraham Toro at first base for the second time in the series on Tuesday, but is likely to start Romy Gonzalez at first in the series finale. Cora cited the balance the switch-hitting Toro and right-handed Gonzalez can offer his offensive attack.

“We’re going to mix and match,” Cora said. “Romy will probably play first (Wednesday). Try to keep the balance of the lineup. When teams have three lefties in the bullpen, it’s smart to keep Ref (Rob Refsnyder) and Romy on the bench if we’re going to be aggressive pinch-hitting. Having Abe swing the bat well is going to help us.”

–Field Level Media

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Astros Additions Sink Sox https://digitalsportsdesk.com/astros-additions-sink-sox/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=astros-additions-sink-sox Tue, 12 Aug 2025 12:00:34 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=8106 Right-hander Dustin May (6-8, 4.93) has the starting assignment for the Red Sox on Tuesday.

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Houston Astros debuted their three additions made at the trade deadline to their home fans on Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

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For an offense that has been compromised by injury for lengthy stretches this season, the results were favorable.

Carlos Correa delivered an RBI single to ignite an uprising against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, and Ramon Urias added a two-run homer that proved to be the difference in a 7-6 win. Jesus Sanchez was used as a pinch hitter in the eighth as Houston flashed the potential of its reinforcements heading into Tuesday’s rematch against Boston.

The Astros remain without Yordan Alvarez (hand) and Jake Meyers (calf), but their breakout against Crochet provided a snapshot of what their lineup could accomplish when fully healthy.

“Yes, and imagine when those guys get back,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of Alvarez and Meyers. “But, again, they’re not here, and I give credit to these guys that continue to battle every day. They continue to give quality at-bats, and we’re fighting through this.”

As has been the case for most of this injury-plagued season, the Astros were shorthanded on Monday. All-Star closer Josh Hader had his left shoulder examined pregame in response to discomfort, while setup relievers Bryan King and Bryan Abreu were both unavailable. Their absences forced Espada to mix and match over the final four innings.

“That was kind of fun,” Espada said. “Because I trust this bullpen. These guys have been good for us the entire year, and we need them.”

Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (1-2, 7.43 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Tuesday.

He made his return from a four-month stint on the injured list (fractured thumb) against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday and allowed five runs on 11 hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings in a 6-4 loss. It marked just the third start of the season for Arrighetti.

Arrighetti made one start against the Red Sox last season as a rookie. He allowed two runs on two hits and one walk with a career-high 13 strikeouts in seven innings in a 5-4 win on Aug. 10.

Right-hander Dustin May (6-8, 4.93) has the starting assignment for the Red Sox on Tuesday.

May allowed three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in his first start for the Red Sox following his trade- deadline acquisition from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He alternated wins and losses over his last six decisions and seven starts with the Dodgers, going 3-3 with a 5.54 ERA in that span.

In his lone career start against the Astros, May allowed one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings but did not factor into the decision of a 4-2 win on July 29, 2020, while pitching for the Dodgers.

Not only was Correa playing in Houston for the first time since being reacquired him from the Minnesota Twins, but Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman made his return following nine seasons with the Astros. Bregman, who finished 2-for-4 with a home run, reflected on the warm ovation he received from the crowd and how the Red Sox fashioned a late rally to get within a run.

“I feel like we’re playing really good baseball,” Bregman said. “Everyone in here is getting better and better every single game. I think we’re going to be right where we want to be.”

–Field Level Media

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Giolito Leads Sox to Sweep https://digitalsportsdesk.com/giolito-leads-sox-to-sweep/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=giolito-leads-sox-to-sweep Sun, 03 Aug 2025 18:00:13 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=8066 Boston pitchers have allowed only six earned runs over the last four games for a 1.46 ERA

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – The kids are running the bases after Boston’s 6-1 victory and series sweep of the Houston Astros today. They might as well, as the base paths are clear and clean. Aside from Carlos Correa‘s home run in the 4th inning, the ‘Stros only had three base runners and not one reached third base against Boston’s starter Lucas Giolito.

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Giolito (8-2) had his most successful and deepest outing of 2025, going eight innings and allowing only the three hits and one walk. He struck out four Houston batters as he threw a 103 pitches (67 strikes). Since June 10th, he’s won seven games and dropped only one (at Chicago Cubs, July 18). Giolito’s eight innings were the deepest he’s gone in a game since August 9th of the 2021 season.

And, get this?

The Red Sox gave him a full blast-off of run support, all coming in a six run fourth inning when Houston starter and club ace Framber Valdez simply imploded. The six-run rally started with a Roman Anthony double to left center field, then Valdez walked Romy Gonzalez. From there, Valdez committed a balk, threw a wild pitch, threw a pitch that caused Houston catcher Yanier Diaz to be charged with a passed ball and allowed Boston’s Trevor Story, Ceddanne Rafaela and Abraham Toro to hit consecutive singles before Valdez made an error on a soft grounder up the middle.

The fourth inning saw all the scoring in the game, starting as a 1-0 lead for the Astros but finishing with a 6-1 lead for the Sox.

Valdez had his own 10-game win streak broken, dating back to May 7. During that 10-game span, Valdez posted a 1.84 ERA, struck out 104 batters and kept his opponents to a .202 batting average.

Over in the home dugout, Boston is now 11 games over the .500 mark (62-51), as they’ve won seven of their last eight games, including five in a row (two vs. Minnesota; three vs. Houston). Today, August 3, 2025 marks the first time Boston is 11 games over .500 since June 26, 2022.

The reason? Boston pitchers have allowed only six earned runs over the last four games for a 1.46 ERA.

Houston has lost the three straight games vs Boston, but have dropped eight of their last 10 games.

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Red Sox on a Home Run Roll https://digitalsportsdesk.com/red-sox-on-a-home-run-roll/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=red-sox-on-a-home-run-roll Sun, 03 Aug 2025 00:00:54 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=8061 Boston's Romy Gonzalez, Trevor Story and Abraham Toro each homered

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BOSTON – Boston’s Romy Gonzalez, Trevor Story and Abraham Toro each homered to propel the hometown Red Sox to a 7-3 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Saturday.

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Gonzalez hit a solo home run in the first inning, Story gave the Red Sox a 4-2 lead when he hit a two-run homer in the third and Toro extended the lead to 6-2 with a two-run home run in the fourth. All three home runs came against Houston starter Colton Gordon.

Gonzalez, Story, Ceddanne Rafaela and Rob Refsnyder each had two hits for the Red Sox, who had 10 hits in the win. Victor Caratini collected four of Houston’s 14 hits.

Reliever Justin Wilson (3-1) earned the win for recording the final two outs in the fifth. Boston starter Walker Buehler wasn’t sharp. He gave up three runs on nine hits and walked three with no strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

Gordon (4-4) gave up six runs on seven hits in four innings. He struck out six and walked one.

Boston won the first two games in the three-game series, and extended its winning streak to four games.

Shortstop Jeremy Pena was not in Houston’s lineup after cramping up in the 10th inning of Boston’s 2-1 victory on Friday. Pena came off the 10-day injured list (ribs) earlier Friday. Carlos Correa, reacquired from the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, played shortstop after agreeing to move to third as part of the trade.

Walker’s home run handed the Astros a 2-0 lead in the first, but the home runs by Gonzalez, Story and Toro helped Boston take a four-run lead. Houston made it 6-3 when Yainer Diaz drove in Carlos Correa with a single in the fifth, but Story’s RBI double in the seventh scored Refsnyder and pushed Boston’s lead to four.

Jordan Hicks struck out Correa with the bases loaded for the final out of the eighth inning.

–Field Level Media

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Extra Beginnings https://digitalsportsdesk.com/roman-anthony-winner/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=roman-anthony-winner Sat, 02 Aug 2025 03:00:35 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=8057 The Red Sox received two hits from both Anthony and Alex Bregman, who was playing against his former team for the first time since signing with Boston

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston rookie Roman Anthony’s single in the bottom of the 10th inning drove in Wilyer Abreu with the game-winning run as the Red Sox extended their winning streak to three games by beating the visiting Houston Astros, 2-1, on Friday night.

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Abreu starting the inning at second base as the automatic runner and moved to third on a fielder’s choice before Anthony singled against Bennett Sousa (5-1).

Christian Walker hit his 14th home run of the season for Houston. Walker’s home run came against Boston starter Cooper Criswell with two outs in the second inning.

After Walker’s home run put Houston up 1-0, Boston tied the game, 1-1, when Trevor Story scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Abreu in the seventh.

Criswell made his first start of the season for the Red Sox and limited Houston to one run on seven hits in seven innings. He entered Friday’s game with a 5.06 ERA in six relief appearances with Boston this year, and is 4-2 with a 3.32 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) with Triple-A Worcester.

Greg Weissert (4-3) pitched a scoreless 10th to earn the win.

Houston starter Hunter Brown also allowed one run in seven innings. He gave up four hits, struck out six and walked one.

Houston shortstop Jeremy Pena collected three hits – all singles – after being activated from the 10-day injured list (ribs) Friday. He was in the lineup for the first time since June 27.

Pena was joined on the left side of the infield by former Houston All-Star Carlos Correa, who was acquired in a trade with Minnesota on Thursday and played third base. Correa was 0-for-4 in his first game back with the Astros, who drafted him first overall in the 2012 MLB Draft.

Jesus Sanchez added two hits for Houston. Sanchez was one of three players the Astros landed at Thursday’s trade deadline.

The Red Sox received two hits from both Anthony and Alex Bregman, who was playing against his former team for the first time since signing with Boston in the offseason.

-Field Level Media

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Red Sox Clash with Astros https://digitalsportsdesk.com/red-sox-clash-with-astros/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=red-sox-clash-with-astros Fri, 01 Aug 2025 11:45:59 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=8054 The Astros will kick off a nine-game road trip when they face the Boston Red Sox

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Astros will kick off a nine-game road trip when they face the Boston Red Sox on Friday, and few American League hitters are coming off a better month than Houston’s Jose Altuve.

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Altuve collected four hits, including a three-run home run, to help Houston defeat Washington 9-1 on Wednesday. He hit .363 (33 for 91) during July with seven doubles, five homers and 21 RBIs in 24 games.

“Basically, I’m getting good pitches to hit,” Altuve said. “Early in the season, I was swinging at pretty much everything. I didn’t really focus on the pitch I can handle and I think that was what was different this last month.”

The Astros were held to eight runs during a five-game losing streak that ended Tuesday. They responded by putting up 16 runs over their last two outings.

“We were going through a stretch there where things were not going our way, but our guys are going to push and we figured out a way to score runs,” Houston manager Joe Espada said. “The quality of at-bats were there back-to-back days.”

Houston made a big splash Thursday when it acquired infielder Carlos Correa from Minnesota. Correa played his first seven MLB seasons in Houston before he signed with the Twins as a free agent.

“We were waiting for a shortstop to come in (with the Twins) and now that I get to play third base, it will be great for me at this stage of my career,” Correa told MLB.com.

The Astros also landed infielder Ramon Urias in a trade with Baltimore on Wednesday and acquired outfielder Jesus Sanchez in a deal with Miami on Thursday.

The Red Sox added two pitchers before the trade deadline. Boston acquired right-hander Dustin May from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, one day after it picked up left-handed pitcher Steven Matz in a deal with St. Louis.

Although his numbers aren’t as good as Altuve’s, Boston’s Jarren Duran is coming off a productive month at the plate as well. He batted .317 with five home runs, three triples, nine doubles and 21 RBIs in 23 games in July.

Duran homered and had three hits during Boston’s 13-1 victory over Minnesota on Wednesday. Duran, who has three homers in his last eight games, had five extra-base hits in the three-game series against the Twins.

“Excellent,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “He’s been good the whole month. You look at his numbers, the walks, driving the ball, playing good defense in center and left field, running the bases. He’s one of the most dynamic players in the big leagues and I’m glad he’s playing for us.”

Right-hander Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.54 ERA) is listed as Houston’s probable pitcher for Friday’s game. Brown allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings during his only career appearance against the Red Sox, which came in August 2024.

The Astros went 12-13 in July — their first losing month of the season — but are hoping All-Star shortstop Jeremy Pena (ribs) returns from the injured list in time to play Friday.

Friday’s game will be the first time third baseman Alex Bregman has faced his former team since he signed with the Red Sox in the offseason. Bregman, who was given Wednesday off, helped the Astros win the World Series in 2017 and 2022.

–Field Level Media

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Astros Conduct Batting Clinic in Boston; Sunday at 1:35pm https://digitalsportsdesk.com/astros-to-conduct-clinic-in-boston-sunday-at-135pm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=astros-to-conduct-clinic-in-boston-sunday-at-135pm Sun, 11 Aug 2024 20:29:05 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=6493 By TERRY LYONS BOSTON – The Houston Astros have a relatively new, gorgeous, multi-purpose ballpark in the Space City and it’s served the team well. But, the ‘Stros might trade places with the Boston Red Sox on a Minute Maid moment. Consider the facts and the stats. Coming into the series finale on Sunday at […]

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By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – The Houston Astros have a relatively new, gorgeous, multi-purpose ballpark in the Space City and it’s served the team well. But, the ‘Stros might trade places with the Boston Red Sox on a Minute Maid moment. Consider the facts and the stats.

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Coming into the series finale on Sunday at Fenway Park, the Astros were riding a four-game winning streak, the prior two victories coming at the expense of the hometown Sox to the tune of 8-4 on Friday night and 5-4 on Saturday afternoon for the FS-1 tv crowd. But, consider: Houston left fielder Jordan Alvarez was batting a sizzling .463 (25-for-54) at Fenway over his 14 career games at America’s Most Beloved Ballpark.

Alvarez had seven homers, 19 RBI and a .963 slugging percentage. His batting average, slugging and OPS (1.517) were all tops amongst active MLB batters. The next closest Sox opponent was 78 points behind Alvarez.

By the way, coming into today’s game, Alvarez leads all of MLB with his road numbers of .357 batting average, 1.134 OPS. .695 slugging, and .439 on base percentage.  All the number improved!

On Sunday, as the Astros conducted a clinic in pitching, fielding and batting at the expense of the Sox, Alvarez reached base his four at bats, including a towering home run in the top of the fifth inning when Houston did five runs of damage and take a 6-0 lead in the game. Alvarez hit his solo HR immediately after 3B Alex Bregman took out some car headlights in the parking garage across Lansdowne Street outside of the left field Green Monster.

In the sixth inning, it was more of the same, as Bregman doubled and scored, Alvarez was intentionally walked and scored and SS Jeremy Pena had the honors to place another ball on the pavement outside of the House of Blues on Lansdowne.

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Boston relievers, Brennan Bernardino (four earned runs) and Luis Garcia (five earned runs) took the brunt of the Astros’ in-game BP.

Boston’s relievers were sent to work early when starter and LHP James Paxton suffered a strained calf in the first inning and had to be removed from the game. Long reliever and RHP Lucas Sims came on in relief and pitched two serviceable innings, allowing only one run.

The Red Sox managed to score two runs in the home sixth, avoiding the 10-run rule type outing in what finished as a 10-2 rout with Sox first baseman Dom Smith pitching the top of the ninth inning for Manager Alex Cora in the all-out laugher.

Smith did receive a warm ovation from the Fenway faithful who withstood another Texan-sized shellacking as the Sox were swept for the second time since the MLB All-Star break (LA Dodgers took three, July 19-21).

Boston will be forced to do another Texas “two-step” when the Rangers visit Fenway for three games this Monday through Wednesday. Boston dropped to 61-55 on the season and three games back of the Kansas City Royals in the race for the final wild car slot, while Houston improved to 62-55.

For the agate column lovers, Sims took the loss for Boston and is (1 – 6) while Houston’s starter Hunter Brown improved to (10-7) on the year.

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Sox: Astros Break Out of Slump https://digitalsportsdesk.com/sox-astros-break-out-of-slump/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sox-astros-break-out-of-slump Sat, 10 Aug 2024 03:00:18 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=6487 BOSTON – The Houston Astros will look to extend their winning streak to four on Saturday when they face the Boston Red Sox for the second matchup of a three-game series at Fenway Park. The Astros seem to have broken out of an offensive slump that plagued them in early August. After collecting 13 hits […]

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BOSTON – The Houston Astros will look to extend their winning streak to four on Saturday when they face the Boston Red Sox for the second matchup of a three-game series at Fenway Park. The Astros seem to have broken out of an offensive slump that plagued them in early August.

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After collecting 13 hits in a 6-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, Houston posted a 16-hit attack in an 8-4 triumph over Boston on Friday night. Seven of those hits came in a four-run seventh inning that included a two-run home run by Jose Altuve.

Altuve’s shot tied the game at three-all, and Houston scored twice more in the frame.

“Obviously, trying to get a run in, we were down by two,” Altuve said. “Basically, just put a ball in play. … I’ve been working on trying to drive the ball again and (have) been getting on base, hitting for power.”

Yainer Diaz hit a two-run home run for the Astros in a three-run ninth. Prior to the Wednesday win, Houston was held to 19 runs in the previous eight games — six of them losses.

The Astros scored seven runs on 12 hits in three innings against Boston’s bullpen.

“We’re getting healthy and we have arms,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It didn’t happen today. I always say that’s a fastbreak offense. When they get going, they get going. … It happens quick. They do a good job putting the ball in play, hitting the ball hard early in counts. They’re very aggressive and today we didn’t do the job.”

The Red Sox were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners.

Astros rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (4-10, 5.33 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday. Arrighetti struck out a career-high 12 in his latest outing, a 1-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. It was the most strikeouts in a game by an Astros pitcher this year.

Arrighetti allowed five hits and walked two in six innings. The only run he permitted came on doubles by Dylan Carlson and Brandon Lowe in the third inning. He threw 100 pitches, 67 for strikes.

Houston has lost six consecutive games started by Arrighetti, but he compiled a 3.41 ERA over the past five of those outings as the Astros scored a total of five runs.

Arrighetti will be facing Boston for the first time in his career.

Right-hander Cooper Criswell was scheduled to start Saturday’s game for Boston, but he was placed on the COVID-related injured list on Friday. Right-hander Josh Winckowski (2-1, 3.44 ERA) will get the ball instead.

In 24 games with Boston this season, Winckowski has made five starts, the most recent coming July 6 against the New York Yankees. In that contest, he allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings. Against the Astros in his career, Winckowski has a 2.25 ERA and one save in three relief appearances, all of them last year.

The Friday loss dropped Boston’s home record to 27-29. The Red Sox have a 3.85 ERA in 58 road games and a 4.28 ERA in 56 home games.

Boston’s Nick Sogard had two hits in the series opener. He has reached base in all six games he has played since he was called up from Triple-A Worcester last week, compiling a .318 batting average and a .423 on-base percentage.

“He has a pretty good idea of what to swing at,” Cora said. “He doesn’t chase. He gets to the fastball. So far it’s been good.”

–Field Level Media

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Game 7: Texas at Houston https://digitalsportsdesk.com/game-7-texas-at-houston/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=game-7-texas-at-houston Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:45:27 +0000 https://digitalsportsdesk.com/?p=4837 HOUSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Four years ago, the improbable became reality when the Houston Astros lost Game 7 of the 2019 World Series 6-2 to the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park, capping the first postseason series in league history during which the road team claimed every contest in a seven-game set. With […]

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HOUSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Four years ago, the improbable became reality when the Houston Astros lost Game 7 of the 2019 World Series 6-2 to the Washington Nationals at Minute Maid Park, capping the first postseason series in league history during which the road team claimed every contest in a seven-game set.

With Houston’s 9-2 loss to the Rangers on Sunday in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series, the specter of a repeat of that dubious outcome grew exponentially when Texas forced a decisive Game 7 to be played today.

After producing a plus-11 run differential while sweeping Games 3-5 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, the Astros fell to 1-4 at home this postseason on the heels of posting a sub-.500 home record during the regular season.

An inability to produce in the clutch continues to plague the Astros, who finished 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in Game 6 and are 2-for-17 in the ALCS at home in those situations. Houston loaded the bases with one out, trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning, but failed to convert when Mauricio Dubon lined out to short and pinch hitter Jon Singleton struck out on Sunday.

“It’s disappointing,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker, who named right-hander Cristian Javier the starter for the series finale. “The name of the game is opportunities, and then after that, you hope that you come through. And, yeah, that was — that eighth inning where we had action, and especially with (Dubon) up there, this guy has been coming through all year long, and you know he’s going to make contact. And like I said, some days you just don’t get it done.”

Javier (2-0, 1.69 ERA this postseason) allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings in the Astros’ 8-5 victory in Game 3. Javier had not allowed a run in his three previous postseason starts and improved to 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA as a starter in the postseason.

Despite enduring an erratic season on the mound, Javier has maintained a levelheaded approach to his craft. With their season on the line, the Astros will require more of the same.

“My thought process is to stay positive and go out and just compete,” Javier said.

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The Rangers, who improved to 7-0 on the road this postseason, will counter with veteran right-hander Max Scherzer, who took the loss opposite Javier in Game 3 in what was his postseason debut for Texas and his first appearance since Sept. 12. Scherzer had been sidelined with a muscle strain in his shoulder before returning against the Astros and allowing five runs on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts over four innings.

Though Scherzer (0-1, 11.25) was adamant in the aftermath of that appearance that his arm was healthy, the Rangers are in a position to opt for alternative options should he scuffle after right-hander Nathan Eovaldi logged 6 1/3 innings on Sunday.

“Well, we have a full bullpen because of the job that Nate did,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “So, they’re all hands on deck, as they say. They’re all available. You look at matchups and things like that. But they’re all ready to go.”

Incidentally, Scherzer was the starting pitcher for the Nationals in that fateful Game 7 in 2019.

–MK Bower, Field Level Media

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