The Houston Astros didn’t exactly make it easy on themselves Monday night, but they did what mattered most: They won.
Houston erased a 2-1 deficit with five unanswered runs in the fourth and fifth innings, getting a two-run home run from Nelson Velázquez and a two-run double from Cam Smith on the way to a 6-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox at Daikin Park.
It was also the Astros’ final Monday game of the regular season.
Houston struck first in the third inning without the benefit of a hit. Nick Allen reached on Miguel Vargas’ throwing error, Christian Vázquez walked, and Jeremy Peña moved Allen to third on a forceout. Yordan Alvarez then brought Allen home with another forceout for a 1-0 lead.
The lead didn’t last.
Peter Lambert ran into trouble in the fourth after Colson Montgomery doubled and Chase Meidroth singled him home to tie the game. Tristan Peters was hit by a pitch, and a throwing error by Vázquez on a pickoff attempt helped put two runners in scoring position. Lambert eventually loaded the bases, and Munetaka Murakami’s two-out walk forced home Meidroth to put Chicago ahead 2-1.
Smith and Velázquez Flip the Game
Then the bottom of the Astros’ order went to work.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Smith ripped his fifth triple of the season to right field. Velázquez followed with his fifth home run, a two-run shot to left that turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 Astros lead.
Houston added three more in the fifth. Vázquez opened the inning with a single, and after Peña struck out, Alvarez and Isaac Paredes delivered consecutive singles to load the bases. Christian Walker drew a walk to force home Vázquez and make it 4-2.
Daulton Varsho struck out for the second out, bringing Trevor Richards out of the White Sox bullpen to face Smith. Smith greeted him with a two-run double to left, scoring Alvarez and Paredes and extending Houston’s lead to 6-2. Smith finished 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, and two RBI.
Astros Pitching Bends, but Doesn’t Break
Lambert’s night ended after 4 2/3 innings. He allowed three hits and two unearned runs, walking five and striking out six. Enyel De Los Santos recorded the final out of the fifth before returning for the sixth.
That inning became considerably more adventurous than Houston would have preferred. De Los Santos got two outs but also issued three walks, loading the bases for Bennett Sousa. Sousa retired Randal Grichuk on a fly ball to left, stranding all three runners and preserving the four-run lead.
Chicago got one run back in the seventh when Montgomery homered off Sousa, cutting Houston’s lead to 6-3. Steven Okert worked a scoreless eighth, and Bryan Abreu handled the ninth. Taylor Trammell opened the inning with a sliding catch on Braden Montgomery’s liner before Abreu struck out Colson Montgomery. After a two-out walk to Meidroth, Abreu struck out Brenton Doyle to end the game.
Houston finished with eight hits, led by Smith’s two. Velázquez drove in two with his home run, while Alvarez and Walker each drove in one. Alvarez went 1-for-3 and was intentionally walked in the sixth.
The Astros overcame two errors and 10 walks from their pitching staff. Chicago stranded 14 runners and went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position, repeatedly giving Houston opportunities to escape trouble.
Yordan Alvarez Triple Crown Watch
Yordan Alvarez went 1-for-3 with an RBI and an intentional walk Monday, continuing his pursuit of the American League Triple Crown as the calendar turns to September. His third-inning grounder brought home Houston’s first run, and Chicago later chose to put him on intentionally in the sixth, another indication of how little opposing pitchers want to give the Astros’ most dangerous hitter a chance to do damage.
Houston Takes a Two-Game Lead Into September
With the win, the Astros improve to 70-68 and extend their lead in the AL West to two games over the 68-70 Texas Rangers. The Seattle Mariners sit six games back at 64-74.
Houston continues the series against the White Sox Tuesday at Daikin Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT. Chicago will start right-hander Sean Burke (7-6, 3.32 ERA), while the Astros have not yet announced their starter.
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