The Houston Astros rediscovered their offense on Monday against the host Miami Marlins, and the visitors will attempt to keep it going in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday.
After getting swept in a three-game weekend set by the Boston Red Sox and managing a total of five runs, Houston responded with 11 hits in an 8-2 victory at Miami.
“They are an aggressive offense,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “They strung some hits together.”
Houston’s Jeremy Pena, Yanier Diaz and Cam Smith each collected two hits on Monday, and they combined for four RBIs. The strong offensive performance led the Astros to just their third win in 11 games.
The result halted Miami’s five-game winning streak, the club’s second-best run of the year. The Marlins have been one of the best teams in baseball over the past two months, going 30-15 since June 13.
On Tuesday, the Marlins will start right-hander Cal Quantrill (4-8, 4.79 ERA). The Astros had not announced a starter as of late Monday night.
Quantrill, who is 1-2 with a 4.38 ERA in six career appearances (four starts) against Houston, has allowed just one run over his past three starts, covering 16 innings. He registered 10 strikeouts and just two walks in that span.
The Marlins — who lost 100 games last year — entered the series with a .500 record, making them one of baseball’s best comeback stories this year.
Among their surprising contributors is utility man Javier Sanoja, who is 4-for-7 with three homers in his past two games. The 5-foot-7, 150-pound Venezuela native had hit just one homer in 91 major league games before going deep twice on Friday against the New York Yankees. He added a solo shot on Monday.
“Power surge from Javier Sanoja!” McCullough said with a smile. “He is a really good baseball player. He is always prepared.”
Astros left fielder Jesus Sanchez was prepared to face his former teammates on Monday, four days after Miami traded him to Houston in exchange for pitcher Ryan Gusto, infielder Chase Jaworsky and outfielder Esmil Valencia.
On Monday, Sanchez hit an RBI double off ex-teammate and Dominican countryman Sandy Alcantara.
Sanchez enjoyed the moment, laughing in Alcantara’s direction.
“He’s a great hitter and a great teammate,” Alcantara said. “He was laughing, but I don’t like laughing. He knows that.
“It was great to see him on the field, but it was sad to see him on the other team.”
The RBI was Sanchez’s first with his new team. He is 4-for-15 (.267) in four games with the Astros.
Another Houston newcomer, Carlos Correa, is 4-for-17 (.235) with a homer and two RBIs since he was acquired last week from the Minnesota Twins.
The three-time All-Star was needed because Isaac Paredes — who had been terrific at third base this year — sustained a serious right hamstring injury on July 19.
Paredes, who has posted 19 homers, 50 RBIs and an .829 OPS in 94 games this season, reportedly declined to have season-ending hamstring surgery.
Instead, he will try to rehabilitate the injury in the hopes of returning late this season.
“He is dedicating himself to getting back,” Astros general manager Dana Brown said. “That gives me some optimism. He’s watching what’s going on here (with the team), and he wants to be a part of it.”
–Field Level Media
