The Houston Astros delivered another late game knockout Wednesday night, using back-to-back eighth inning home runs from Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes to defeat the Miami Marlins 5-2 and complete a three game sweep at loanDepot park.
Houston continued its strong play following the All-Star break, while Miami’s struggles deepened as the Marlins dropped their ninth consecutive game. Their last victory came before the break.
The game was tied 2-2 entering the eighth inning before the Astros’ powerful lineup came through once again. Jeremy Peña ignited the rally with a leadoff single against Miami ace Sandy Alcantara (10-6). Moments later, Alvarez crushed his major league leading 34th home run of the season, a towering two-run blast to left-center field that gave Houston a 4-2 advantage.
The fireworks continued immediately afterward as Isaac Paredes launched the very next pitch to nearly the same spot in left-center, giving the Astros back-to-back home runs and a commanding 5-2 lead.
Houston’s offense had chipped away throughout the night. Nick Allen opened the scoring in the second inning with an RBI single, and Peña stayed red hot by leading off the third inning with a solo home run his third homer in as many games to put the Astros ahead 2-0.
Miami responded in the fourth inning to briefly erase the deficit. Javier Sanoja doubled home a run before rookie catcher Joe Mack followed with an RBI single to even the score at 2-2. However, the Marlins managed little offense the rest of the way as Houston’s bullpen slammed the door.
Steven Okert (3-1) earned the victory with a dominant eighth inning, retiring all three batters he faced while throwing just eight pitches, six of them for strikes.
Astros starter Peter Lambert turned in a quality outing, working six innings while allowing six hits and two earned runs. He struck out three and walked two before turning the game over to the bullpen. Bryan Abreu secured his sixth save of the season by striking out one during a scoreless ninth inning.
Alcantara was solid for much of the evening but was tagged with the loss after surrendering Houston’s decisive rally in the eighth. The right-hander pitched seven innings, allowing nine hits and five runs while striking out three and walking one.
The sweep capped another successful series for Houston, which received timely hitting throughout the lineup and continued its climb in the American League standings.
For Miami, the skid continues to grow despite another competitive effort from Alcantara. The Marlins were unable to capitalize after tying the game in the fourth and were held scoreless over the final five innings.
The Marlins return home Friday to begin a three game series against the San Diego Padres. San Diego is scheduled to start right-hander Germán Márquez (4-2, 5.24 ERA), while Miami has yet to announce a starting pitcher.
The Astros travel to Chicago for a three-game series against the White Sox. Houston will send Spencer Arrighetti (7-5, 4.34 ERA) to the mound, while Chicago counters with Davis Martin (9-5, 3.31 ERA).
