Somehow, the Houston Astros took the Giants 2-1 Wednesday afternoon to win the series at Oracle Park.
The Astros are now 62-60, a 1.5-game lead over the Rangers (60-61) heading into Thursday's off day. The Astros are now making their way home for the upcoming series against the Mariners at Daikin Park.
Here is a look at the series finale, Astros vs. Giants, in Houston's unlikely win.
The Astros used Wednesday as a bullpen game, giving Bryan King his first start. King made his very first start Wednesday afternoon; he's almost exclusively been in the bullpen. He was off to a good start and had a three-pitch strikeout, but after walking two, De Los Santos stepped on the mound to relieve King in the first inning.
Next on the mound was Tatsuya Imai, who was recently moved to the bullpen after having trouble as a starter. Walks were an issue for the Astros, and Imai added to the number by walking two in the second. He loaded the bases but was able to escape the jam. Imai has had his struggles this season, but Wednesday he had four strikeouts total, giving the Astros exactly what they needed.
As for the outfield, Daulton Varsho had an incredible sliding catch. He had to cover an enormous amount of ground in center, and it looked like it should've been Trammell's ball, but Varsho got the job done.
The Astros may have won, but it wasn't a flashy game. That being said, a few good moments for Houston, like Peña's line drive making for an easy double. Alvarez had his 84th walk of the season, but Paredes grounded into a double play and Varsho lined out to end the 3rd. Once again, they had an opportunity to give themselves some cushion, but nothing came out of the inning.
Nick Allen led off the 6th and advanced on a bunt by Vázquez. Allen tried to draw a rundown to advance Peña, but the Giants turned a double play instead.
As for Yordan Alvarez, he came into this game with a 12-homerun-less-game streak, and in any other park he would have likely broken the dry spell, but at Oracle Park it bounced off the wall.
The seventh inning did the Astros a serious favor. Bericoto dropped a routine lineout, and it should've been a double play, but he dropped the ball, literally, and put two Astros in scoring position. Velázquez's pinch-hit line drive brought in Paredes, giving him his first RBI in an Astros uniform.
Trammell hit a triple off the wall in the 8th, and Allen followed up with a sac fly to drive him in, Allen's 12th RBI of the year. A clutch move that led to the win.
Josh Hader shuts the door again for the save.
Not their best work, but a series win nonetheless, and the momentum is necessary going into the Mariners series.
