Reddick's blast helps Astros hold off Diamondbacks
The Sports Xchange
Aug 16, 2017
HOUSTON -- Josh Reddick lined a two-run homer as the Astros answered the Arizona Diamondbacks' three-run eighth with four runs in the bottom half of the inning, leading Houston to a 9-5 victory Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Reddick clubbed his 12th home run off Arizona left-hander Andrew Chafin to right field, his first homer against a southpaw this season, to drive home George Springer. The Astros (74-46) recorded a pair of runs earlier in the inning via a wild pitch and Jose Altuve's sacrifice fly that scored Derek Fisher.
The Diamondbacks (66-54) shaved a four-run deficit to 5-4 with a pair of home runs in the top of the eighth.
Houston native Paul Goldschmidt socked a two-run blast, his 29th, off Astros right-hander Luke Gregerson before former Astro J.D. Martinez followed with his 24th home run of the year. It was Martinez's eighth homer for Houston.
Five Astros recorded RBIs against Arizona starter Taijuan Walker (6-7).
Designated hitter Carlos Beltran opened the scoring with his 14th home run, a solo shot with two outs in the second inning. Beltran added a sacrifice fly an inning later, upping the Houston lead to 3-1 after Marwin Gonzalez worked a bases-loaded walk to break a 1-1 deadlock.
Reddick and Yuli Gurriel delivered run-scoring hits in the fourth inning to provide Astros right-hander Charlie Morton (10-5) with a working margin. Morton surrendered one run over 6 1/3 innings, posting nine strikeouts against four walks while allowing three hits.
Walker labored through his five innings, waiting until his final inning to retire the side without allowing a baserunner.
A double-play grounder from Altuve helped Walker escape the first inning unscathed, but he surrendered three baserunners plus a run in the second, five baserunners and two runs in the third, and three more baserunners and two runs in the fourth.
While a fielding error by second baseman Brandon Drury didn't help Walker's cause, he allowed nine hits and two walks during his 101-pitch outing. And his inability to close innings was his undoing, with the Astros scoring three of their five runs against him with two outs. Two of the runs Walker yielded were unearned.
NOTES: Diamondbacks OF David Peralta is expected to rejoin the starting lineup Thursday following reinstatement from the paternity list. Peralta traveled from Phoenix to Houston on Wednesday night. ... Astros RHP Will Harris threw a bullpen and is scheduled to face hitters Friday, the next step in his rehab for right shoulder inflammation. Harris has been on the disabled list since July 11. ... Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray is scheduled to work five innings or 75 pitches in a rehab start Thursday night for high Class A Visalia. Ray was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list July 28 after being struck in the head by a line drive July 27. ... Astros C Evan Gattis participated in batting practice for the first time since landing on the concussion DL on Aug. 5.
Aug 16, 2017
HOUSTON -- Josh Reddick lined a two-run homer as the Astros answered the Arizona Diamondbacks' three-run eighth with four runs in the bottom half of the inning, leading Houston to a 9-5 victory Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.
Reddick clubbed his 12th home run off Arizona left-hander Andrew Chafin to right field, his first homer against a southpaw this season, to drive home George Springer. The Astros (74-46) recorded a pair of runs earlier in the inning via a wild pitch and Jose Altuve's sacrifice fly that scored Derek Fisher.
The Diamondbacks (66-54) shaved a four-run deficit to 5-4 with a pair of home runs in the top of the eighth.
Houston native Paul Goldschmidt socked a two-run blast, his 29th, off Astros right-hander Luke Gregerson before former Astro J.D. Martinez followed with his 24th home run of the year. It was Martinez's eighth homer for Houston.
Five Astros recorded RBIs against Arizona starter Taijuan Walker (6-7).
Designated hitter Carlos Beltran opened the scoring with his 14th home run, a solo shot with two outs in the second inning. Beltran added a sacrifice fly an inning later, upping the Houston lead to 3-1 after Marwin Gonzalez worked a bases-loaded walk to break a 1-1 deadlock.
Reddick and Yuli Gurriel delivered run-scoring hits in the fourth inning to provide Astros right-hander Charlie Morton (10-5) with a working margin. Morton surrendered one run over 6 1/3 innings, posting nine strikeouts against four walks while allowing three hits.
Walker labored through his five innings, waiting until his final inning to retire the side without allowing a baserunner.
A double-play grounder from Altuve helped Walker escape the first inning unscathed, but he surrendered three baserunners plus a run in the second, five baserunners and two runs in the third, and three more baserunners and two runs in the fourth.
While a fielding error by second baseman Brandon Drury didn't help Walker's cause, he allowed nine hits and two walks during his 101-pitch outing. And his inability to close innings was his undoing, with the Astros scoring three of their five runs against him with two outs. Two of the runs Walker yielded were unearned.
NOTES: Diamondbacks OF David Peralta is expected to rejoin the starting lineup Thursday following reinstatement from the paternity list. Peralta traveled from Phoenix to Houston on Wednesday night. ... Astros RHP Will Harris threw a bullpen and is scheduled to face hitters Friday, the next step in his rehab for right shoulder inflammation. Harris has been on the disabled list since July 11. ... Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray is scheduled to work five innings or 75 pitches in a rehab start Thursday night for high Class A Visalia. Ray was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list July 28 after being struck in the head by a line drive July 27. ... Astros C Evan Gattis participated in batting practice for the first time since landing on the concussion DL on Aug. 5.
