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After a convincing win on Opening Day, the Astros looked to make it two wins in a row to start the season.
Alex Bregman put the Astros on the board in a big way in the 3rd inning when he connected on a 3 run shot to LF, his second homer in as many games.
BREGMAN WITH ANOTHER BOMB! pic.twitter.com/rmfhFgMiMq
— Apollo Media (@ApolloHOU) April 3, 2021
In the 4th inning the Astros added a couple more runs. Yuli Gurriel, who singled earlier in the game, crushed a solo shot to left to make it 4-0. After a couple outs, Altuve reached on an infield single (and he looked really well running that one out to first). Brantley then followed with an RBI double off the LCF wall to make it 5-0.
Cristian Javier got the start for the Astros and looked really good in the first 3 innings as he was perfect with 3 strikeouts. He ran into some trouble in the 4th allowing two runs before being pulled for Abreu. With two on, Abreu got Andrus to ground into a force out to get out of trouble. Javier’s final line was: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.
Abreu worked in and out of some trouble ultimately tossing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief of Javier.
The Astros put a couple runners on in the top of the 7th and with men on 1st and 3rd, Kyle Tucker came to the plate. He hit a pop up to second base, which normally would not be productive, but somehow, Altuve tagged up and scored to stretch the lead to 6-2.
WHAT?! Altuve scores on an infield popup. How? pic.twitter.com/99rA68FQgB
— Apollo Media (@ApolloHOU) April 3, 2021
The A’s picked up a run in the bottom of the 8th off Blake Taylor to make it 6-5.
The offense entered the 9th looking for some insurance, and they got it. After an Altuve single and Brantley double, Bregman was intentionally walked. Tucker followed with a 2 run single up the middle to make it 8-5. Three batters later, with the bases loaded, Myles Straw beat out an infield single (it was ruled an error but the homer in me wanted a single) to first base driving in a run to make it 9-5.
Ryan Pressly came on for the bottom of the 9th to make his first appearance of 2021. He had a solid 9th with a strikeout and a scoreless inning, but he did allow a walk and a single. Another impressive win for the Astros as they move to 2-0 on the season.