HOUSTON — If Astros manager Dusty Baker was going to hand out a game ball Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, he should have brought a crate.
The Astros had enough heroes to fill a comic book, erasing a 6-1 deficit by scoring twice in the eighth and four times in the ninth to sweep the Cubs and win their season-high fourth straight game.
“I always say, ‘If you can win the eighth and the ninth, you have a chance of winning the baseball game,'” Baker said. “Boy, we had heroes upon heroes tonight. The guys passed. It was a magnificent victory. It was the win of the year. It’s great, especially right before a day off too. What I appreciate is that there aren’t many fans left.
No one could have blamed them for starting in eighth. When the Cubs retired in the top of the eighth, they had a 98% chance of winning. RBI hits from Alex Bregman (3-for-4 with a home run) and José Abreu cut the lead to 6-3 heading into the ninth. Still, the Astros were 0-17 this season as they trailed after eight innings.
“I think it just shows the character of these guys who never stop and keep fighting,” Bregman said. “Obviously we got into a big hole early, but our bullpen came in and did a really good job of leaving it there. The offense kept fighting all day.
Meyers’ two-run homer against Keegan Thompson in the ninth cut the lead to 6-5 and gave the Astros hope with the top of the roster ahead. Dubón’s walk, Peña’s double and an intentional walk to Bregman — the Cubs wanted left-hander Brandon Hughes to face left-handed hitters Yordan Alvarez and Tucker, while setting up a forced out at all bases — loaded the bases without withdrawal.
“Sometimes in the ninth moto, when you’re down three, home runs can be rally killers,” Bregman said. “Dubón comes in from the bench and sets up a good at-bat and works a 3-2 walk, and Peña probably had the biggest hit of the ninth inning with that double (and Dubón) going first to third. I think it was a good team win in the all-around.
Says Baker: “All you can ask for is an opportunity and a chance. We had the big boys who came in the middle of the order and they were successful.
Alvarez hit in a fielder’s pick that cut the runner at home plate, but Tucker lined up a single to center to score Peña and Bregman to win the game, giving Houston their first win of the season. The Cubs contested the home plate call, but the replay showed Bregman was safe.
“It’s really good to collectively have a lot of good abs there in the ninth against some really good pitchers,” said Tucker, who hit his third career hit. “It’s kind of a positive to come back against a very good team.”
Things looked grim for the Astros after rookie starter JP France, making his first home start, was rocked for six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings, giving up two homers to Seiya Suzuki and one to Christopher Morel .
“We’ll have to watch the video to see if I was tipping or something,” France said. “I could talk about it all I want. At the end of the day, we pulled one out and got the sweep. It was a good game.”
The Astros had no hits with a runner in scoring position until the eighth inning, but were 7 for 11 with two walks in their 13 plate appearances in the eighth and ninth innings.
Houston has scored 81 runs in the seventh inning or later this season, which leads the AL.
“This last run I got a good dugout (seat) for a great comeback, for the important runs,” Meyers said. “Peña, huge blow there. Huge double. What a Tuck swing. It was fun to watch.
Houston has scored 81 runs in the seventh inning or later this season, which leads the AL.
“This last run I got a good dugout (seat) for a great comeback, for the important runs,” Meyers said. “Peña, huge blow there. Huge double. What a Tuck swing. It was fun to watch.