The Astros needed only one big inning Thursday afternoon to turn a tied game into a comfortable series-clinching win.
Houston scored four runs in the third inning and never looked back, beating the White Sox 6-2 at Daikin Park to take three of four in the series and improve to 72-69.
Jose Altuve homered, Daulton Varsho drove in two with a triple, and Hunter Brown settled in after a troublesome second inning to give Houston six solid innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.
Altuve Strikes First
The Astros jumped on Luis Castillo in the first inning after Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez struck out to begin the game. Isaac Paredes drew a two-out walk, and Altuve followed with his 15th home run of the season, sending a two-run shot to left to give Houston a 2-0 lead.
Chicago answered immediately.
The White Sox collected four hits against Brown in the second, including RBI singles by Jake Rogers and Sam Antonacci, to tie the game at 2-2. Brown finally escaped by striking out Munetaka Murakami, but Houston’s early advantage was gone.
It didn’t stay gone for long.
Astros Break It Open in the Third
LaMonte Wade Jr. opened the bottom of the third with a single, and Alvarez was hit by a pitch one out later. Paredes then doubled to left, scoring Wade and putting Houston back in front 3-2.
After Altuve struck out, Varsho delivered the biggest hit of the inning. His two-out triple to center brought home Alvarez and Paredes, stretching the lead to 5-2. Christian Walker followed with an RBI single to score Varsho and make it 6-2.
Houston finished with eight hits, with Paredes, Altuve, Varsho, and Walker accounting for all six RBI.
Brown Settles Down
The second inning proved to be Brown’s only real trouble.
After allowing Chicago to tie the game, Brown stranded runners at first and third in the third by striking out Braden Montgomery, Colson Montgomery, and Chase Meidroth in succession. He then retired the White Sox in order in both the fourth and fifth innings.
Brown finished with two runs allowed on six hits over six innings, walking two and striking out seven. He improved to 5-3.
Bennett Sousa worked a perfect seventh, Bryan Abreu retired the side in order in the eighth, and AJ Blubaugh worked around a two-out single in the ninth to finish the win. Houston’s bullpen allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings.
Alvarez’s Triple Crown Pursuit Continues
Alvarez went hitless Thursday, finishing 0-for-2, but his season numbers remain firmly in Triple Crown territory. He leaves the White Sox series batting .316 with 37 home runs and 94 RBI.
With September underway, every plate appearance now carries a little more weight as Alvarez tries to become the first Triple Crown winner since Miguel Cabrera in 2012.
Astros Take Three of Four
After dropping Tuesday’s game 5-1, Houston responded with consecutive wins to close the series, including Wednesday’s 2-0 shutout and Thursday’s 6-2 victory. The Astros improve to 72-69 and remain in first place in the AL West with 21 games left in the regular season.
Houston stays at Daikin Park to open a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Cristian Javier will return to a traditional starting role for the opener, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. CT.
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