Photo Credit, crawfishboxes.com
By Undre Smith_ossports.net
Independence Day Fireworks begin earlier than Brave Fans expected. That show was scheduled to start after the game. But the Astros threw a wrinkle which included its own launching pad.
The home crowd of 41,456 displayed a somber mood, as the Astros’ bats heated up early and often to silence the packed house.
Since no rules were broken, the Astros slowly carried out an offensive assault, shelling out 19 hits, in a 16-4 thrashing of the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night at SunTrust Park.
George Springer highlighted a four-run third inning by launching a dynamic shot over the right field wall, his 25th of the season, to increase Houston’s lead, 2-0. Later In the same inning, Yuli Gurriel, came to home plate with the bases loaded and lined a bases-clearing triple to left field, giving the Astros (57-27) a comfortable 5-0 lead.
Searching for ways to halt the 5-0 lead, Braves starting pitcher Sean Newcombe intentionally walked Alex Bregman with two outs to face winning pitcher Brad Peacock, who struck out to end the inning.
Houston’s offensive attack watched several Astros finish the game with three or more hits including Altuve, Bregman, Gurriel, Reddick, and Springer. Just five reasons why Houston holds the best record in baseball.
Meanwhile, the Astros offense was exploding for 19 hits, Peacock (6-1) echoed a solid performance on the mound, surrendering seven hits, striking out seven, in six innings of work.
Springer led off another scoring inning in the top of fourth with a single to left field, Reddick singled to right field, Carlos Correa followed with a walk, and Gonzalez’s infield single scored Springer. Catcher Brian McCann grounded out to first base, but it produced the Astros seventh run of the game.
Though the Astros led 7-0, Correa endured an injury to his thumb, attempting to steal home plate but was gunned by Jackson at the plate for the final out of the inning. Correa’s injury known as a thumb discomfort has him listed as day to day.
It was a unified effort on the Astros part.
Despite struggling to get anything going, the Braves did not get much going offensively or defensively but scored four runs before it was all said and done.
Newcomb lasted better than three innings, yielding ten hits, seven runs, and two strike outs before Luke Jackson came on in relief.
The Braves used a total of six pitchers but had no answer for the surging Astros.
For the first time since late in September of 2001, (90-60), Houston is 30 games above .500 and hold a 16 and a half game lead over the second place Rangers.
Houston tacked on three runs in the top of the 5th, two in the seventh and four in the 9th. Reddick’s grand slam powered all four of Houston’s ninth inning runs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, right fielder Nick Markakis doubled off the wall in right center, and Matt Adams got aboard with an infield single. Tyler Flowers’ RBI doubled in the gap gave the Braves it’s first run of the game when Markakis cross the plate. Short Stop Adams Swanson followed with a walk before Danny Santana slapped a single to right field, sending two runs home but still trailing, 12-3.
Atlanta added another run in the Bottom of the eighth inning after Flowers RBI sac-fly.
