Valdez dazzles, Alvarez returns with a blast as Astros beat the Mariners, 11-1.

The main story in this game, was the return of Yordan Alvarez to the Astros lineup. It didn’t take him long to make an impact either...

After the Mariners picked up a run in the top of the first off of Framber Valdez, the Astros offense went to work. Springer reached on a catcher’s interference and Reddick followed with a single. After an Altuve strikeout, Bregman put the Astros on the board with an RBI single.

Next up was Yordan Alvarez making his debut for 2020 and he did this....

First at-bat of 2020 and Alvarez connects on a 3 run HR! Yuli Gurriel would follow with a solo shot to make it 5-1. After two straight walks to Correa and Tucker, Maldonado continued the scoring with a 2 run double making it 7-1 Astros.

The Astros weren’t done though. The lineup turned over and Springer singled to put two on. The next hitter, Josh Reddick, doubled to right field driving in Maldonado and extending the lead to 8-1. Altuve then reached on a fielding error that allowed Springer to score. Bregman would walk, but Alvarez grounded into a double play to end the 9 run first inning.

The Astros offense tacked on another run in the second on a Gurriel leadoff triple. Correa drove him in with an RBI groundout to shortstop. Alvarez added another run on a bases loaded HBP in the 5th inning to make it 11-1. The offense didn’t do anything after this, but they didn’t need to since the pitching was brilliant.

Framber Valdez got the start and pitched really well again allowing just 1 run over 6 innings of work. His ERA for the season now stands at 1.90. Brandon Bailey relieved Valdez and tossed two scoreless innings. Cy Sneed came on to close it out in the 9th and despite an infield single, he closed it out with an easy 9th for the 11-1 Astros victory!