While they are just nine games into the MLB season, the Houston Astros really needed their weekend series win over the Minnesota Twins. That’s especially true after Sunday afternoon’s come-from-behind 9-7 victory in extra innings.
The Astros have gotten off to a bit of a slow start this season. They needed a kind of tonic or wakeup call in the worst way. There’s nothing better than a Yordan Alvarez game-tying, two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to do it.
“That was a team win,” Astros manager Joe Espada said, MLB.com reported. “[We got] contributions from a lot of players. Our bullpen did a nice job keeping us in there. Some small ball, bunting guys over, stealing home, trying to find a way to win a game — and we did.”
Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco didn’t have his best stuff. Houston staked him to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on Alvarez’s sacrifice fly to Twins left fielder Harrison Bader. Left fielder Jose Altuve, whose outfield play has been a little suspect here and there, led off the first inning with a single. He got all the way around to third base and scored on the Alvarez flyball out.
The Twins pounced on Blanco, working their way up to a 4-1 lead. Astros manager Joe Espada pulled Blanco after 1 2/3 innings, where he allowed four earned runs and five hits. Reliever Luis Contreras came on and worked 2 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs in his workload.
Things looked bleak for the Astros, but they must have been inspired while watching the Houston Cougars rally late to beat the Duke Blue Devils and reach the Men’s NCAA Basketball Championship final. The Astros put together their own version of a comeback.
Twins starter Chris Paddack worked four innings, giving up four earned runs against the Astros. Houston posted three runs in the fifth and another in the sixth inning, setting the stage for Alvarez’s big blast.
In the 10th inning, Altuve came through again, as he singled home designated runner Brendan Rodgers. Center fielder Jake Meyers stole home on a double steal, giving the Astros a 9-7 edge. Houston reliever Josh Hader, who picked up the victory in relief, worked a perfect ninth ahead of the 10th inning. The Twins didn’t score at all, with Hader striking out former Astros catcher Christian Vasquez on a called third strike to end it.
Third baseman Isaac Paredes had a four-hit game for the Astros, showing some dividends at the plate.
Altuve, Alvarez, Rodgers, and second baseman Christian Walker had two hits apiece against Minnesota pitching.
The Astros headed to the Pacific Northwest after Sunday’s series finale. They start up a series against an old nemesis, Julio Rodriguez and the Seattle Mariners, on Monday night. Hayden Wesnecki (0-1) gets the start for Houston against Seattle ace Logan Gilbert.
Yes, the Astros needed a series win in the worst way. Altuve made some pretty decent plays out in left field, hopefully quelling some voices that want him out of there. It doesn’t look like Espada has any plans to move Altuve back to second base anytime soon. Rodgers is making a solid case to stay there.
Alvarez knows how to make waves in the best way possible for Astros fans. They kept waiting for their beloved “Yordaddy” to connect for one of his patented big-time homers. He delivered an upper-deck bomb that set Twins fans back on their heels. The Houston Astros got a much-needed shot in the arm.
Now, let’s see what they can do against the Mariners in their early-week series starting Monday night.
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