Astros manager A.J. Hinch recorded his 500th
career victory as Houston clinched this three-game series by
overcoming a pair of three-run innings from the Cubs, who
slugged five home runs. Houston did so despite fielding a lineup
loaded with replacements, including a trio of starters who were
in the minor leagues just last week.
Bregman, however, was the star, bashing his 16th and 17th home
runs to keep the Astros chugging along despite the absence of
Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa, who was
diagnosed with a rib injury Tuesday. Altuve and Springer are
currently on the 10-day injured list with hamstring strains.
Bregman, by contrast, is fully healthy, and set a club record
with 12 homers this month, bypassing the mark of 11 set by Jimmy
Wynn in May of 1969.
His second dinger came on the first pitch from Cubs reliever
Brad Brach with two outs in the sixth and snapped a 6-all
deadlock. Brach had entered in relief of Cubs left-hander Jon
Lester (3-4), who allowed seven runs on eight hits and three
walks over 5 2/3 innings against an Astros lineup that also
featured two reserves in Tony Kemp and Jake Marisnick pressed
into service. And Astros catcher Garrett Stubbs finished 2-for-4
with a double and an RBI in his big-league debut.
The last batter Lester faced, right fielder Derek Fisher, worked
a two-out walk to set the table for Bregman, who finished
2-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs. Marisnick tacked on an
insurance run with his RBI double in the seventh, plating Kemp,
who singled off Brach with two outs before swiping second base
and advancing to third on a throwing error by catcher Willson
Contreras.
The Cubs bashed three solo homers off Astros rookie right-hander
Corbin Martin in the second inning with Jason Heyward, Addison
Russell and David Bote all going deep. Heyward and Russell
homered in succession and the Cubs pulled that trick again in
the sixth off Astros reliever Josh James (2-0) when Bote cranked
his second homer of the night immediately before Kyle Schwarber
launched a 396-foot blast to the back of the home bullpen in
right-center field.
The power surge wasn't enough. Astros closer Roberto Osuna, who
had allowed five runs over his previous three outings, retired
the side in order in the ninth for his 15th save on the season.
--Field Level Media
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