After Sunday's blowout, the Astros needed a bounce back, and they got one. It didn't look likely for most of the night, but they pulled off a serious comeback in the 9th to kick off the series with a win. The Angels are having a rough season, but a win is still a win that Houston needs. Astros trailed 4-2 heading into the ninth and scored four to win it, 6-4 final score.
Here's how it happened: José Fermín hit Trammell, Walker singled, and Trammell scored on a Grissom error to make it 4-3. Bachman intentionally walked Alvarez to load the bases, then hit Paredes to tie it 4-4. Nobody had to hit the ball hard to do it either, this rally was built on walks, hit batters, and mistakes by the Angels defense. Wade drew the go-ahead walk, and Altuve reached base on a fielding error by Bachman, allowing Alvarez to score the final run.
The pitching told a different story early on. Tatsuya Imai didn't make it out of the first inning for the third time this season, allowing a sac fly and an RBI single before Blubaugh finished the inning. Imai has been struggling with walks all season, and Monday was another example, walking four batters before Blubaugh came in to relieve him. The Angels tacked on more in the third, a Grissom homer and an Adell RBI double, to lead 4-0.
But the Astros weren't done clawing back. Trammell homered in the fourth, his second straight game and fifth of the season, cutting it to 4-1. Peña doubled leading off the eighth, extending his hitting streak to nine games, and it's clear he's finally healthy again, and Alvarez's RBI single made it 4-2.
That set the stage for the ninth. The bullpen was seriously taxed by the time it was over, but Cristian Javier got the win, striking out seven over five shutout innings, looking like he'd fully shaken off the rust from his time on the IL. This was Javier's best outing since coming back, and exactly the kind of length this bullpen has needed. Hader walked two but closed it out for his 13th save, staying clutch when Houston needed him most, per ESPN.
The Astros are now two games back of Texas in the AL West and two back of Cleveland for the wild card. Peter Lambert starts Tuesday against Reid Detmers, and he's been about as consistent as anyone in this rotation. Another win would be huge, and the bullpen could really use the rest.
