Astros Choke in Extras Again. Fall to Giants 4-3

Sloppy defense and yet another bullpen meltdown snatch defeat from the jaws of victory yet again

For nine innings, it was a pitching duel between two rookies, the only scoring coming from a triple allowed by each.

But in the tenth inning, the Astros went small-ball with an intensity that would make Ty Cobb proud.

And then they became the bad New Bears.

To open extra innings for the Stros, slugger Trey Cabbage led off the inning with a bunt single, which was at first ruled out but overturned on review. On an eleven-pitch at bat, extra-inning hero Tony Caratini sacrificed the ghost runner, Joey Loperfido, home.

Jose Altuve then got the second bunt single of the inning, and Alex Bregman punched a weak grounder just past the shortstop into center to score Cabbage. A few feet left, and it could have been an inning-ending double play.

But just as sharp as the Astros were offensively in the top of the tenth, their bottom of the tenth looked like a blooper reel.

Astros reliever Rafael Montero did not distinguish himself either, allowing an RBI single to the lead-off hitter Brett Wisely. (Montero’s first of four in the inning)

OK, the Giants still needed another run with a runner only on first. Heliot Ramos obliged Astros’ hopes by hitting a fairly weak grounder to Jeremy Pena’s right that should have been one and possibly two outs. Instead, Pena just missed it, putting the tying run on second and no outs.

Patrick Bailey then tied the score with a sharp single. Next, with one out, Michael Conforto hit a classic double-play ball up the middle. Pitcher Montero muffed the play, loading the bases. Of course, Austin Slater walked it off with a single off the left field wall.

But let’s not ignore the brilliant pitching of two rookie starters.

For the first nine innings, it was a game of triples.

Astros rookie Spencer Arrighetti held the Giants scoreless for 5.2 innings before surrendering a walk and a triple to Mike Yaztremski.

Giants rookie Kyle Harrison held the Astros scoreless 6.1 until Yordan Alvarez scored on a sac fly after a hustle triple.

Unfortunately, despite classic play in the top of the tenth, the Astros found another creative way to lose, their second come-from-behind walk-off loss in the last two games.

Box Score HERE.