Altuve homer the only offense in the game
Shades of the Phillies series.
Shades of the winning 2025 Astros.
It was a shutout for the first five innings, a pitcher’s duel between the Astros’ Framber Valdez and the Cubs’ Jameson Taillon.
Taillon blinked first, On his 107th pitch he served up a howitzer shell that Jose Altuve launched into the Crawford Boxes only 347 feet away, but at a 44 degree launch angle. It gave the Astros a 2-0 lead.
Valdez maintained his shutout though six innings, extending his scoreless inning streak during the homestand to 13. In the seventh inning, the Cubs put runners on first and second bases with no outs when Manager Joe Espada sent in Bryan Abreu who mowed down the Cubs in the seventh, and did it again in the eighth, six up, six down with four Ks. If you believe in the eye test, for two innings Abreu looked awesome, like Nolan Ryan throwing a no-hitter.
Valdez ended the game with six scoreless innings, allowing five hits, two walks, striking out six,
Josh Hader got his 23rd save, getting the Cubs three up, three out in the ninth.
the Astros are off tomorrow on their way to Colorado on Tuesday.