Astros Shake Off Slow Start, Sweep Braves

The Houston Astros issued a stern warning to the rest of Major League Baseball.

They’re back.

The defending World Series champions swept the Atlanta Braves in a three-game weekend series and extended their winning streak to four.

Even with injuries to the likes of Jose Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr., the Astros appear to have shaken off a slow start.

In the eighth inning, Yordan Alvarez tied the game with a two-run single with two outs for 27 RBI in 20 games. Corey Julks hit s clutch pinch-hit RBI single and Alex Bregman produced a two-run single in a 5-2 win on Sunday.

The sweep was much-needed even for a team as talented as the Astros.

“I thought we played a lot better baseball this series than we’ve been playing,” Bregman said. “I thought it was a great team win today, and basically all three days. We played good baseball and hope we keep it rolling.”

The positive momentum will be huge considering the Astros now travel to face the 19-3 Tampa Bay Rays, who own a 13-0 home record.

“They’re a very good ballclub,” Bregman said. “You can obviously see it by their record, and it’s going to be two good teams playing against each other. We’ve got a stretch of really good teams playing against each other, starting with Toronto and then a really good Braves team. I look forward to getting to Tampa and getting going.”

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