It looks like the Astros won’t be sellers at the trade deadline after all.
The Astros took their fifth straight series today. It was their second straight thrilling comeback win as well, taking down the Tigers 7-5 in ten innings thanks to three late-inning home runs.
Were the Astros bats that good, or the Tigers league-worst bullpen that bad? Who cares. The Astros are currently one game behind the Rangers and a half game behind the Mariners for the lead in the AL West. How many among us, including myself, had given up on the 2026 Astros?
Astros ace Hunter Brown started where he left off in his last game, when he had to exit in the third inning after 80+ pitches. Although he escaped the first inning without surrendering a run, in the second, the Tigers tagged Brown for two on a home run by light-hitting Zach McKinstry.
Meanwhile, Tigers starter Jack Flaherty was nearly untouchable, compiling six strikeouts before the fourth inning. The Astros did manage to load the bases in the fourth, but Flaherty struck out Jake Meyers to keep the score 2-0, Tigers.
Flaherty shut out the Astros through five innings, striking out nine. In the fifth inning, the Tigers added an unearned run on a bobble by second baseman Raynel Delgado, allowing a runner from second to score with two outs. Nonetheless, despite the second-inning mistake, Brown looked like himself again, finishing the game with a quality start, allowing three runs, two earned, with five hits, two walks, and four Ks.
Delgado atoned for his sin in the sixth with a two-out, two-run homer following an error by first baseman Colt Keith. It was Delgado’s first MLB career homer.
The Astros made their comeback bid complete in the eighth inning on a leadoff, game-tying, Isaac Paredes homer to left, his 11th.
Bryan Abreu, Steven Okert, and Bryan King combined to hold the Tigers through the sixth and seventh innings. In the bottom of the ninth, Josh Hader walked the bases loaded but escaped unscathed with a strikeout to Riley Greene, sending the game into extra innings.
The Astros took their first lead in the tenth. Jeremy Pena scored following a walk to Yordan Alvarez and a go-ahead RBI single by Paredes, whose homer earlier tied the game. But that was just the beginning. Christian Walker iced the game with a three run homer to deep left field, his 19th homer and 56th RBI, tied with Alvarez for the team lead.
How sweet it is. Home runs against Detroit closer Kenley Jensen never grow old. (See Game 2 WS, 2017)
Spencer Torkelson brought the Tigers into striking distance in their tenth against Enyal De Los Santos with a leadoff, two-run homer. Zach McKinstry followed with a single. With two outs, Ben Malgeri walked, sending Matt Vierling to the plate as the potential winning run. Vierling drove one deep to right field. As the ball sailed high in the air, Tigers fans got ready to bring down the house, but the ball landed in the glove of Cam Smith, sealing the Astros’ win, and breaking Tigers fans’ hearts.
The Astros take on Minnesota tomorrow at home at 7:10.
This team just doesnt quit. Hell of a comeback win and Issac has been on a damn tear
very much a team effort. what a spectacular run down and sliding catch by brice in the outfield
He made a difficulty play look somewhat routine. That gapper would have otherwise ended the game. Espada clearly views Matthews as a distinct defensive upgrade from Trammell. He may be correct.
I’ve been on board with Cam as a hitter. I’m still not really on board with Brice as a hitter.
But for both of them, I’ve been very impressed at their transitions to the outfield defensively
I’m digging this 1980s styled scorebug (even though they didn’t have scorebugs back then)
The Jackass style shot to the nuts not so much, but the scorebug yes.
https://twitter.com/iliterate__/status/2071002340274880659/video/1?s=46
Glad I didn’t switch to watching tournament bass fishing when things got bleak in April. Usually glad. Although occasionally (the tenth inning today) I feel like Mrs Bennett from Pride and Prejudice: “Oh, my poor NERVES.”