Baseball can be a game of inches at times and for the Houston Astros on Saturday afternoon, it cost them against the Baltimore Orioles in a 3-2 loss. Rookie Colton Cowser’s soft grounder to first was fielded by Astros first baseman Jon Singleton. But Singleton’s lack of hustle to the bag proved critical in another one-run defeat.
Cowser slid into first base ahead of Singleton, loading the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rookie Jackson Holliday came up to the plate as a pinch hitter and delivered. Holliday slammed a bases-clearing double to right-center field off Astros reliever Taylor Scott. He broke an 0-for-20 hitless streak just in the nick of time.
Houston Astros Can’t Help Valdez
Entering the sixth inning, the Houston Astros held a 2-0 lead after solo home runs from Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena. It was the second straight game for both players to hit homers. Yet the Astros’ offense was not able to muster anything else against Baltimore pitching.
“I’ve been here before,” Holliday said, according to The Associated Press. Holliday suffered through a 2-for-34 start at the major-league level before getting sent back to Triple A. “Obviously it’s not great, but that experience the first time is helpful. Not really thinking too much about it. I’ve hit some balls hard, just haven’t had great luck.”
Does the weekend count as a Holliday? pic.twitter.com/epc332VjLQ
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 24, 2024
Orioles reliever Keegan Akin (3-0) picked up the victory. Reliever Siranthony Dominguez threw a scoreless ninth inning for his fifth save and his second in two days.
Houston Astros starter Framber Valdez (13-6) went 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out eight, but seemed to be frustrated at times with home plate umpire Roberto Ortiz. Valdez has had a tendency at times to let umpires’ calls that don’t go his way upset him.
Cowser was all smiles after the game, looking back on his hustle play down the first-base line. “It’s kind of an unconventional thing to do — you’re not really taught to do that,” he said. “Just instincts kind of take over.”
With the victory, the Baltimore Orioles pulled themselves closer to the first-place New York Yankees in the American League East Division. Yet the Orioles have been going through some dry stretches themselves. In their last 57 games, Baltimore has gone 27-30 and dealt with injuries.
But here they are posting a comeback victory for the second sraight game over the Houston Astros. On Friday night, Anthony Santander notched a go-ahead grand slam homer off Astros reliever Bryan Abreu.
Hector Neris Joins Astros
Yordan Alvarez missed his second straight game due to neck stiffness. Houston Astros manager Joe Espada will have to see how his slugging outfielder-designated hitter feels on Sunday. Alvarez took some swings in the batting cage before Saturday’s game, but didn’t get off the bench. Alex Bregman did return to his third-base position, apparently feeling better after his elbow inflammation.
Luckily, the Astros maintained their lead in the American League West Division. The Seattle Mariners continued their losing ways on Saturday at T-Mobile Park, falling 4-3 to the San Francisco Giants. Ideally, Houston was hoping to stretch its lead.
The Astros signed reliever Hector Neris to a contract for the rest of this season. Neris joined the Astros in Baltimore on Saturday. Earlier this season, Neris signed a $9 million free agent contract with the Chicago Cubs. But his efforts apparently didn’t fit into the Cubs’ plans, so he was released on Wednesday. It didn’t take long for Neris’ phone to get a call from Astros general manager Dana Brown.
Héctor Neris happy to be back with the Astros. pic.twitter.com/W2bXYd5XUY
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) August 24, 2024
“It’s exciting,” Neris said, according to MLB.com. “It makes me happy to be here with the guys I was with the last two years. I had good relations, and the team made history for my life. Hopefully, maybe we can do it again here.”
Espada was happy to see Neris back in the bullpen. He has another veteran arm who knows his way around Astros baseball back in the fold. “The guys were excited to have him back,” Espada said. “His leadership, the energy he brings, it’s something that we’re excited to have. It was like the first day of school. He was super excited to see his friends and teammates, and [we’re] super excited to have him on the team.”
Reliever Kaleb Ort also was reinstated from the paternity list. To make room for Neris and Ort, pitchers Seth Martinez and Shawn Dubin were sent back down to Triple-A Sugar Land. Infielder Jacob Amaya was designated for assignment.
The Houston Astros and Baltimore Orioles will wrap up their four-game series under the lights on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball from Camden Yards. Yusei Kikuchi (6-9) gets the start for the Astros against Dean Kremer (6-9) for Baltimore.
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