The Astros finally delivered the kind of game they desperately needed Friday night.
Hayden Wesneski threw five hitless innings, Yordan Alvarez drove in two runs, and Houston’s bullpen finished off a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over the Athletics at Daikin Park.
After dropping two of three to the Angels, including an 18-3 drubbing Thursday, Houston opened its final series of the homestand with a considerably calmer night. The Astros improved to 65-64 and remained atop the AL West.
Wesneski walked Henry Bolte to begin the game but immediately erased him when Jeff McNeil grounded into a double play. From there, the right-hander kept the A’s out of the hit column for the rest of his outing.
Wesneski allowed no hits and no runs over five innings, walking three and striking out four on 74 pitches. He improved to 3-1 with a 4.23 ERA.
Astros Give Wesneski Some Support
Houston had opportunities early but didn’t break through until the fourth inning. Isaac Paredes walked and Daulton Varsho doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Christian Walker’s sacrifice fly brought Paredes home for a 1-0 lead.
The Astros added two more runs with two outs in the fifth. Nick Allen drew a walk before Alvarez doubled to center to score him. Paredes followed with an RBI double of his own, extending the lead to 3-0.
Alvarez struck again in the seventh. Raynel Delgado walked, Allen moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Jose Altuve advanced him to third on a flyout. Alvarez followed with his second double of the night, scoring Delgado to make it 4-0.
Alvarez finished 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBIs, a run scored, and a hit by pitch. Altuve also had two hits, while Walker went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Bullpen Finishes the Shutout
Bennett Sousa replaced Wesneski in the sixth and surrendered Houston’s first two hits of the night but struck out three to strand both runners.
Bryan Abreu worked around two walks in a scoreless seventh, and Steven Okert retired the A’s in order in the eighth. Enyel De Los Santos handled the ninth, working around a two-out error by Walker to complete the shutout.
Houston pitching held the Athletics to three hits, struck out nine, and did not allow an extra-base hit. The Athletics went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight.
The Astros collected nine hits but were just 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left six aboard.
Peña Could Return Saturday
Jeremy Peña missed his second consecutive game with a right hand contusion after being hit by a 100 mph pitch Wednesday against the Angels. An MRI showed no structural damage.
Peña took groundballs and made throws before Friday’s game, with manager Joe Espada saying the hand was not causing problems defensively but still bothered Peña when he swung the bat.
“I think he’ll be OK for tomorrow to start the game,” Espada said before Friday’s game.
Nick Allen started at shortstop again in Peña’s absence and contributed to Friday’s win, drawing a walk and scoring in the fifth before laying down a sacrifice bunt in the seventh.
Friday also marked former Astros catcher Christian Vázquez’s 36th birthday. Vázquez remains a fan favorite in Houston after his memorable stint with the club.
After a brutal series against the Angels, the Astros have at least started the weekend by remembering what winning baseball looks like.
The Astros continue the series Saturday at 6:10 p.m. CT at Daikin Park, with Hunter Brown (3-3, 3.67 ERA) scheduled to face Athletics left-hander Jacob Lopez (5-4, 5.22 ERA).
Houston will have to settle for maintaining its one-game lead in the AL West. The Angels and Rangers were scoreless through nine innings Friday before Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the 10th, only for Texas to rally and win.
