Lackluster Astros Drop Series to Giants. Fall in Rubber Match 5-3

Alvarez double and homer not enough to pick up Framber Valdez

Three runs were enough to win yesterday behind the new Astros ace, Ronel Blanco. But for the former ace, Framber Valdez, such continued anemic offensive output would not suffice.

Valdez continued his pattern of inconsistency. Today, he only got through four innings, allowing five runs on eight hits, one walk, and only one strikeout. He was lifted after only 59 pitches. Of those, there were only four swings and misses. His season ERA is now 3.99.

The Giants opened the scoring in the third inning starting with a Mike Yastremski single followed by an Austin Slater bunt single. After a groundout advanced the runners, Wilmer Flores sacrificed Yastremski home for the Giants’ first run. A Matt Chapman double to deep center field plated the game’s second run.

The Astros made a mini-comeback in the fourth inning after a 414-foot Yordan Alvarez double and a Jeremy Pena infield single that scored Alvarez from third.

The Giants blew it open in the bottom of the fourth with a 3-spot. Jorge Soler led off with a single, and the bases were loaded after a Brett Wisely double and a Yastremski hit-by-pitch.

Austin Slater hit a two-RBI single followed by a Heliot Ramos sac fly on a sharply hit ball to center to make the score 5-1.

The Astros tightened the margin in the sixth on a two-run 405-foot blast Yordan blasted to left center, scoring Alex Bregman, who had just singled.

Despite nine hits, the Astros’ only three runs can’t be blamed on a lack of clutch hitting, as seems typical for the Astros. There were only three runners in scoring position. They never mounted a serious threat in this game and won last night only with the help of a Matt Chapman throwing error.

One bright spot was reliever Shawn Dubin. He finished the last two innings, allowing no runs, one hit, one walk, and five Ks.

It was a 3-3 road trip, but with two walk-off losses and today’s lackluster performance, the Astros return home for three games on a down note.

Box Score HERE.