The Houston Astros returned to Daikin Park on Monday riding the momentum of one of the team’s best stretches this season.
While the recent road trip featured extra-inning drama and some timely hits in key moments, manager Joe Espada said the biggest reason for the team’s success has been its complementary style of play.
“The highlights were the big home runs,” Espada said. “But for me, the highlights were the defense that we played that allowed us to win those games with the big home runs, the big wins.”
Espada said the Astros have been playing their best baseball at the right times, with multiple big plays during the road trip.
That included outfield catches by the likes of Brice Matthews, who made a sliding catch in the ninth inning Sunday against the Tigers to preserve a tied game the Astros eventually won in the 10th. The Astros also have turned seven double plays on defense in their past seven games and are second in MLB with 76 this season, three behind the San Francisco Giants.
Those moments were made possible by Houston’s ability to keep games close through strong defense, quality starting pitching and a bullpen that has continued to shut down opponents late, Espada said.
“We’re doing a lot of things so well that’s allowing us to keep the game down one, up one, and then we can deploy the bullpen and win those close games,” Espada said. “We do that by playing that type of baseball, and our guys are embracing the moment. It’s not just the home runs — it’s different guys doing it.”
Houston looked to continue its surge in Monday’s homestand opener against the Minnesota Twins with Peter Lambert getting the start. The right-hander is 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA in his past six starts.