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The revamped Astros bullpen did its job today, holding the potent Padres lineup for over three innings...until the last pitch of the game.
In fact, the Astros held the Padres scoreless from innings 2 - 8. However, the Friars jumped on starter Luis Garcia early with three runs in the first, the big blow a two-run double by Eric Hosmer.
The Astros opened the game with a run in the first on an RBI single by Alex Bregman, which knocked in Jose Altuve, who led off the game against Pads starter Chris Paddack with a double.
Breggy brings Altuve home #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/aikcuuMJpB
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 5, 2021
The Astros managed only six hits, but two of them were homers by Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correa in the seventh, which tied the score at 3.
Piña Power!!! #ForTheH pic.twitter.com/kbWEEZodP5
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 5, 2021
BACK-TO-BACK!!!#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/HZfNglFgyE
— Houston Astros (@astros) September 5, 2021
After Luis Garcia left the game with two outs in the sixth, Brooks Raley, Blake Taylor, and Kendall Graveman held the Padres until the ninth. Then, with one out in the bottom of the ninth Jake Cronenworth hit his 20th home run off Ryne Stanek to right-center field.
Garica’s line was 5.2 IPs, three runs, six hits, one walk, with five strikeouts.
At this writing it looks like the Astros will be facing a second-place Seattle Mariners team, five games behind the Stros, tomorrow, Labor Day, at Minute Maid Park, 6:10 CDT.
Yusei Kikuchi with face Stros #1 Lance McCullers.