HOUSTON — Astros manager Dustin Baker had to make his case Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park if he was awarded a game ball.
The Astros had enough heroics to fill a comic book, scoring twice in the eighth and four in the ninth to erase a 6-1 deficit to sweep the Cubs and win their fourth straight game of the season.
“I always say: If you can win the eighth and ninth, you have a chance to win the ballgame,” Baker said. “Boy, we had heroes against heroes tonight. The men came. It was a great victory. It was the win of the year. That’s great, especially before a day off, too. What I appreciate is that there aren’t many fans left.
No one could blame them for going out in the eighth. When the Cubs were retired in the top of the eighth, they had a 98 percent chance of winning. RBIs by Alex Bregman (3-for-4 with a homer) and Jose Abreu cut the lead to 6-3 heading into the ninth. Still, the Astros are 0-17 this season when trailing after eight innings.
“I think it shows the character of these guys to never stop and keep fighting,” Bregman said. “Obviously, we got into a big hole early, but our bullpen came in and left it there and did a great job. The attack continued throughout the day.
Meyers’ two-run homer off Keegan Thompson cut the lead to 6-5 in the ninth and gave the Astros hope for the top of the division. Dubon’s walk, Pena’s double and an intentional walk to Bregman — the Cubs looked to lefty Brandon Hughes to face lefties Jordan Alvarez and Tucker, setting up a power play on all bases — loaded the bases with no outs.
“Sometimes, in the ninth inning, when you’re down three, homers can be rally killers,” Bregman said. “Dubon came off the bench and put together a good at-bat and worked a 3-2 walk, and Pena got the big run in the ninth inning with that double.” [and Dubón] First go to the third. I think it was a good all-round team win. “
Baker said: “All you can ask for is opportunity and opportunity. We had the older boys come in the middle of the order.”
Alvarez hit a fielder’s choice to cut down the runner in the infield, but Tucker lined one up the middle to score Pena and Bregman to score the game-winning run, giving Houston its first walk-off win of the season. The Cubs challenged the call at the plate, but replays showed Bregman was safe.
“It’s great to have a lot of good abs in the ninth,” said Tucker, who notched his third career walk. “It’s a great place to come with a great team.”
Things looked dire for the Astros after rookie JP France made his first start at home, allowing six runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings, giving up two homers to Seiya Suzuki and one to Christopher Morrell.
“We’ll have to watch video to see if I’m tipping or something,” French said. “I could talk about that all I want. At the end of the day we took one out and swept it. It was a good game.”
The Astros didn’t have a hit 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, which leads the AL.
“That last inning, I got a good dig [seat] For the big comeback, for the important runs,” Meyers said. “Pena, hit hard there. A huge double. What a swing by Tuck. It was fun to watch. “
Houston has scored 81 runs in the seventh inning or later, which leads the AL.
“That last inning, I got a good dig [seat] For the big comeback, for the important runs,” Meyers said. “Pena, hit hard there. A huge double. What a swing by Tuck. It was fun to watch. “