The juggernaut rolls on. Astros stomp A’s 15-0

Be afraid Major League Baseball. Be very afraid.

After the Astros scored 21 runs yesterday, some among us wondered if there would be a scoring drought to follow. Baseball is famous for its superstitions, and if you score a bunch of runs in one game, that means you used up all your runs for other games later.

Not if Alex Bregman had anything to say about it. Hitting cleanup, he started the first inning scoring with a three run homer, his 35th of the season.

Yordan Alvarez really didn’t appreciate this thought either. Following the Bregman bash, Yordan had this to say:

And as if to say, “c’mon guys, let’s score three touchdowns again,” Robinson Chirinos added the inning’s third dinger, a two-run shot.

By the end of inning one, the Astros were up 6-0. They had scored 27 runs in their last eight innings of play going back to last night.

But the fun was just beginning. In the second inning, following a George Springer single, Jose Altuve said, ”my turn guys.” Boom!

It was Altuve’s 26th homer of the year, adding to his career high.

Not to be left out, Uncle Michael Brantley said, “Don’t forget me fellows,”

This one chased starter Mike Fiers from the game. A pitcher known for allowing more than his share of homers, these five homers were more than he had ever allowed in a game before. Five homers, and he had only retired three batters.

This one was Brantley’s 21st of the season, his personal season high as well.

Just to make Fiers feel a little better, that it wasn’t all his fault, Yordan Alvarez decided to leave a little initiation tattoo on the new pitcher, Paul Blackburn.

As if the rookie season of Alvarez wasn’t already legendary, this Yordan blast made it into the THIRD DECK of Minute Maid Park. Is that even possible?

The Astros had six (6) home runs in the first two innings, and after Robinson Chirinos singled home Abraham Toro, who was sitting on third after a triple, the Astros led 11-0.

IN THE SECOND INNING.

Yordan Alvarez had two home runs tonight, and was 4 for 6 last night with 3 doubles and 6 RBI. For the two nights he was 6 for 11 with 15 total bases and 8 RBI.

Impressive.

But the ultimate batting hero of tonight’s game was catcher Robinson Chirinos, who added his second homer of the night in the 7th inning, a three run job, making him 3 for 4 for the night with six (6) RBI.

It was the seventh Astro home run, tying an Astros record set exactly nineteen years ago to the day, also at Minute Maid Park.

Along with their 15 runs, the Astros had 17 hits, seven homers and one triple. Last night the Astros had 21 runs and 22 hits, with 11 doubles and two homers. I’ll do the math for you. That’s 36 runs in 16 innings worth of two games, 11 doubles, one triple, and nine home runs.

By the way, sluggers Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel were not in the lineup either night.

Be afraid, baseball. Be very afraid.

Meanwhile. while the Astros bats were setting off fireworks in Minute Maid Park and leaving sulphur fumes near the roof, Astros pitching completely shut down and shut out the potent A’s lineup.

Zack Greinke, whom rumor had it left his best stuff in Arizona, was a wizard tonight, pitching his best game as an Astro. He held the A’s scoreless for six efficient innings, allowing only two hits, no walks, while striking out five.

This was followed by recent minor league call-up Bryan Abreu, a 22 year-old with wicked stuff, who held the A’s scoreless for two more innings, allowing only one hit.

Another rookie, Cionel Perez, looked sharp closing the game with a perfect ninth, striking out two A’s.

So, quick recap of two splendid back-to-back games that Astros fans will remember always: 36 runs for, 1 run against. 39 hits for, 4 hits against. Utter, complete, total, humiliating domination, offensively and defensively, against two different teams.

Tomorrow Wade Miley seeks redemption for his last outing, in which he surrendered five runs without recording an out. His opponent his Tanner Roark.

Box score and videos HERE.