If Houston Astros fans needed some reassurance that their team was rounding into postseason form, then all they had to do on Saturday was look at Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. These two put on a hitting show, collecting four hits apiece and solo homers in a 10-4 Astros win over the Los Angeles Angels.
The win gives the Houston Astros eight victories in their last 10 games. But it also helped the team lower its Magic Number to three. Any combination of Astros victories and/or Seattle Mariners losses can give Houston yet another American League West Division title. Seattle beat the Texas Rangers 8-4 on Saturday, securing a .500-or-worse season for the Rangers after they won the World Series in 2023.
Houston Astros Click On Offense
Well, when talking about the Houston Astros and their big win on Saturday night, one cannot leave out the work starting pitcher Ronel Blanco did against the Angels’ lineup. Blanco (12-6) picked up the victory, working six innings for his night. Blanco only allowed two runs and gave up seven hits while striking out nine Los Angeles hitters. After Saturday’s effort, Blanco lowered his earned-run average to 2.88. It puts him third in the American League among starting pitchers in that category.
Blanco earned a tip of the cap from Astros manager Joe Espada after the game. “I tip my hat to him,” Espada said, The Associated Press reported. “From day one, that no-hitter he threw (in his first start), he’s been embracing that role. He’s been grinding it out. We gave him that little breather. His stuff looks good. He’s been a workhorse for us.”
Speaking of the Astros’ offense, it was on fire against the Angels. Victor Caratini got into the home run act with a three-run shot himself. The Houston Astros kept the Minute Maid Park scoreboard busy, collecting 20 hits on the night. That was a season-high number for the Astros.
Back-to-Back Jacks For Sluggers
Alvarez and Tucker went back-to-back in the seventh inning, making it 10-2 Houston. They hammered their long home run balls off of Angels reliever Ryan Miller in a three-pitch sequence. After the game, Alvarez had some pithy comments about his teammate who is rounding back into shape just at the right time.
So far tonight:
Yordan Alvarez: 4-for-5, HR
Kyle Tucker: 4-for-4, HRIs that good? pic.twitter.com/so27uc24rD
— MLB (@MLB) September 22, 2024
“He didn’t even let me enjoy the homer because as I was getting to the dugout he was already hitting his,” Alvarez said through an interpreter. For Tucker, it was his second straight four-hit game. Alvarez had gone 12 at-bats without a hit coming into Saturday night. He put any concerns about his hitting stroke to bed, thanks to his four-hit night.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was back in the starting lineup. Outfielder Jake Meyers has been making inroads in his own way on offense here lately. On Saturday night, he went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, two walks, a stolen base, and a run.
For Los Angeles, starter Reid Detmers (4-8) took the loss. Detmers didn’t make it out of the third inning. On the night, he gave up seven runs and nine hits. Detmers was pulled by Angels manager Ron Washington after the first four Astros batters reached safely in the third. He gave up seven runs and nine hits while retiring just five of the 17 hitters he faced.
“Too many pitches out over the middle of the plate,” Washington said when meeting with the press after the game. “As relentless as that lineup is, you’ve got to make them work for their at-bats. They had too many easy swings. He was out there competing, but when he didn’t get it where he wanted to get it, they didn’t miss it.”
As for the Astros’ injury report, righthanded pitcher Tayler Scott went on the 15-day injured list due to a thoracic spine strain. Outfielder Chas McCormick has been out of action for a bit, but he’s been able to grip a bat again. Hopefully, McCormick can return to the Astros’ lineup and get into postseason form himself.
The Astros will go for a series sweep on Sunday with Spencer Arrighetti (7-13, 4.68 ERA) facing Los Angeles’ Griffin Canning (6-13, 5.16 ERA).
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