The stage is set with Saturday’s win and Sunday will determine which team wins the AL West division title.
There isn’t much to complain about in this game, a welcomed departure from plenty of other instances this season. Hayden Wesneski threw seven innings of one-run ball. Ronel Blanco also tossed two scoreless innings, giving the rest of the bullpen a day off. Considering the possibility of a bullpen game for Sunday, the Astros will likely need all available arms ready to go.
The lineup was busy, too.
16 hits, 13 runs. Jeremy Peña had four hits, including two home runs. Yordan Alvarez, Isaac Paredes, and Lucas Spence each had a home run. Overall, it was a much-needed showing for a lineup that somehow leads the majors in home runs, but still struggles to score runs at a consistent clip as of recent months.
An Astros win on Sunday clinches the division. A loss along with a loss from the Rangers also secures a division title. But a loss and a Texas win would finish Houston’s season. It all hinges on one game now.
Feature photo from Astros on X
The cockroaches will survive.
JP3 made an error under similar circumstances than Altuve’s yesterday. However, because nothing happened after the error, JP3 wasn’t vilified. Like Altuve had control over what happened after his error. Silly fans.