It took a storybook ending to send Astros fans home happy. The offensive support that imposed teams in the previous seven games disappeared. The multiple runs in a single inning, nowhere to be found.
Yet, Houston pinned another come from behind loss, 6-3, on the Texas Rangers after Altuve’s 10th inning grand slam, thrilling the crowd on Monday night at Minute Maid Park.
“We did to them what they did to us three times (Rangers), and that’s a bad feeling,” Baker explained. “We certainly didn’t want that feeling again.”
Jose Altuve crushed an 0-1 walk-off grand slam pitch to left field off reliever DeMarcus Evans in the bottom of the 10th inning to send the Houston Astros to a celebration. It’s the first walk-off grand slam since August 16, 2011, when Brian Bogusevic helped Houston defeat the Cubs, 6-5.
In an interview with AT&T Sportsnet Southwest, Altuve said, “It feels good to hit a homer, especially in this situation, to win the game,” Altuve said. “I think we needed that as a team. We battled all game long.”
Chas McCormick stood on second base, representing the unearned run making the last out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Myles Straw and pinch-hitter Jason Castro walked to load the bases before Altuve delivered.
Manager Dusty Baker took the win as a well-deserved 72nd birthday present, considering his past defeats.
“I certainly went home happy because my record on my birthday is terrible,” Baker said. “The first thing Jose told me was, happy birthday, skip. It certainly was a happy birthday.”
In the top of the 10th inning, the Rangers faced Ryan Pressly, with Brock Holt standing on second base as the unearned base runner. Pressly fanned Adolis Garcia and Joey Gallo but surrendered a RBI single to Nate Lowe as Texas regained the lead, 3-2. Nick Solak grounded out to Pressly to end the inning.
The Rangers held a 2-1 advantage entering the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs when Correa connected on a 2-2 pitch from Josh Sborz, sending the ball to the opposite field, tying the game to force extra innings.
The first day back since his injury, Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers, Jr. got into trouble in the fourth and fifth innings. He gave up back-to-back hits to Garcia, including a RBI double to Gallo as Texas led, 1-0. McCullers, Jr. ended his evening pitching four and a third innings, giving up three hits and three walks.
In the fifth inning, two consecutive walks would aid in producing the Rangers’ second run after Garcia hit a playable grounder to Correa. Still, after Altuve secured the ball, he failed to step on second base, and Garcia beat the relay throw to first base, leaving the bases loaded.
Baker calmly walked to the mound signaling a pitching change, calling on Blake Taylor from the bullpen, who eventually walked in a run when he tossed four straight balls to Gallo.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Altuve, Michael Brantley, and Yordan Alvarez singled to load the bases before Yuli Gurriel’s RBI sac fly trimmed the lead, 2-1
Though Rangers’ starter Kyle Gibson fell behind in the count during several innings, he appeared comfortable on the mound as he continued to dominate the Astros with good command and solid defense. Gipson pitched six complete innings, surrendered seven hits, a walk, and struck out three.
Spencer Patton, who relieved Gipson in the bottom of the eighth inning, struck out the side when he faced Chas McCormick, Myles Straw, and Maldonado. Brett Martin relieved Patton after an inning and a third.
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