A Three-Homer Outing
The Houston Astros defeated the Sacramento Athletics 7-5 on Friday, September 25, at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California. The decisive factor for the visitors was Yordan Spence, who hit three home runs to drive the offense. Attendance at the venue was 9,367. The Astros improved their record to 79-80, while the Athletics fell to 63-96.
Early Offense and Response
The game began with a bang in the second inning. Spence launched a 429-foot home run to right center, driving in Hunter Walker and Smith to give Houston a 3-0 lead. That play accounted for three of the team's seven total runs. The Athletics responded in the third inning when McNeil hit a 379-foot home run to right center, scoring Heim and Langeliers to make it 3-3. Gelof then added a 413-foot solo shot to center, giving Sacramento a 4-3 lead before the half.
Late-Inning Surge
Houston tied the game in the sixth inning when Paredes hit a 394-foot home run to left. The balance of the game was decided by a flurry of extra-base hits in the final three frames. In the seventh, Spence hit his second homer of the game, a 387-foot shot to right center, to put the Astros ahead 5-4. The eighth inning brought two more home runs: Walker hit a 436-foot shot to left center, and Gelof answered with a 398-foot homer to left center, making the score 6-5. Spence closed the scoring with a 351-foot home run to right in the ninth inning, sealing the 7-5 victory.
Pitching Staffs
The Astros used five pitchers. Peter Lambert took the loss, pitching 2.2 innings while allowing six hits and four earned runs. Bryan King pitched 1.1 scoreless innings. Miguel Ullola earned the win with three scoreless innings, striking out three. Bennett Sousa recorded the hold in 0.2 innings, allowing one run. Bryan Abreu pitched 1.1 scoreless innings to record the save. For the Athletics, Mason Barnett started, pitching six innings while allowing four hits and four earned runs. Scott Blewett took the loss in one inning, allowing three hits and one earned run. Chris Roycroft and Elvis Alvarado each pitched one inning, allowing one earned run between them.
Sources
ESPN
