The Houston Astros refused to let another game slip away Monday night, scoring four runs over the final two innings to defeat the San Francisco Giants 6-3 in 10 innings at Oracle Park.
Trailing 3-2 and down to their final strike in the ninth, the Astros tied the game on Cam Smith’s two-out RBI single after a wild pitch moved pinch-runner Nick Allen into scoring position. Houston then broke through in the 10th, as Jeremy Peña snapped an 0-for-24 skid with a go-ahead RBI single before Isaac Paredes followed with a two-run double to put the game out of reach.
The comeback gave Houston a chance to build momentum after consecutive series losses to the Blue Jays and Padres.
The Astros struck first in the opening inning. Yordan Alvarez lined a one-out double, advanced to third on a single by Paredes, and scored on Jose Altuve’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead. Houston managed little else against Giants starter Blade Tidwell, who retired 13 consecutive batters after the opening frame.
San Francisco answered in the fourth. Bryce Eldridge doubled, Rafael Devers walked, and Osleivis Basabe singled to load the bases before Drew Gilbert tied the game with a sacrifice fly. Jung Hoo Lee gave the Giants their first lead an inning later with a solo home run to right field.
Cam Smith brought Houston back even in the seventh, launching his 16th home run of the season over the left-field wall. The Giants responded immediately in the bottom half when Gilbert connected for a solo homer of his own, restoring San Francisco’s one-run advantage.
That score held until the ninth, when Christian Walker drew a one-out walk and Nick Allen entered as a pinch-runner. After Allen advanced on a wild pitch, Smith punched a two-out single through the right side to score the tying run, though he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double.
The Astros wasted no time in extra innings. Automatic runner Cam Smith moved to third on another wild pitch before LaMonte Wade Jr. worked a walk. Peña then bounced a ground ball through the left side to score Smith and give Houston the lead. One batter later, Paredes lined a two-run double into the left-field corner, extending the advantage to 6-3.
Hayden Wesneski continued his strong return from injury, allowing three runs on five hits over seven innings while striking out four on just 83 pitches. Steven Okert tossed a scoreless eighth before Josh Hader earned the win with two shutout innings, striking out two and retiring all six batters he faced.
Smith finished 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, and two runs scored to lead Houston’s offense. Alvarez and Paredes each collected two hits, while Peña delivered the biggest swing of the night with his go-ahead RBI single in the 10th. The Astros also improved to just 4-51 this season when trailing after eight innings, making Monday’s comeback one of their most unlikely victories of the year.
The victory kept Houston atop the American League West at 61-59, maintaining a half-game lead over the Texas Rangers. With Texas continuing to keep pace, every series carries added importance as the Astros try to strengthen their grip on the division over the season’s final seven weeks.
Houston will look to clinch the series Tuesday night behind Hunter Brown, who is scheduled to face Giants left-hander Kyle Harrison. First pitch from Oracle Park is set for 8:45 p.m. CT.
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