Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh wipes his face after giving up a grand slam to the Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber during the sixth inning of Houston’s loss Wednesday in Philadelphia.
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — A pivotal inning built slowly to its crescendo. The Houston Astros carried a one-run lead into the sixth on a night both lineups looked potent. Philadelphia’s had taxed their ace, prompting a turn to the bullpen.
Luis Arraez met left-hander Bryan King with a double lined at 84.4 mph off the bat. Bryson Stott pulled a bouncer to Christian Walker, a first baseman with three Gold Gloves, who bobbled it. Edmundo Sosa sent a glacial liner at 58.2 mph toward the right side of the Houston infield, where nobody stood.
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Sosa’s single tied the game. Justin Crawford’s infield single, on a 66.2 mph grounder to shortstop Jeremy Peña, loaded the bases with no outs. Into that inferno entered AJ Blubaugh, the right-hander with more relief innings than any other pitcher in the majors this season.
Blubaugh blew a 98 mph fastball by J.T. Realmuto for a strikeout. He missed the zone with four pitches, then, to Bryan De La Cruz, forcing in the go-ahead run and bringing up baseball’s home run leader. Kyle Schwarber padded his lead and his team’s.
With a one-handed follow-through, Schwarber yanked a full-count sweeper off the facing of the second deck at an electrified Citizens Bank Park. His 10th career grand slam turned a one-run game into a romp. The Astros fell 11-7 on a night their pitching could not prop up the support it received.
“We just couldn’t get outs in the sixth inning,” manager Joe Espada said. “They put the bat on the ball and we just couldn’t really get pitches where we wanted to get them. Credit to that offense, they’re pretty solid one through nine. We’ve just got to come out here tomorrow — we have an opportunity to win a series and we’ll come ready to go.”
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There were varied reasons for frustration. Soft contact fueled two Phillies rallies. Of their 12 hits, seven had an exit velocity of 90.6 mph or below, per Statcast; 95 mph is the hard-hit threshold. Six had an exit velocity of 84.4 mph or lower. Home runs by Schwarber and Trea Turner were two loud exceptions.
“To be in the zone long enough to make contact, to get jammed, to hit one off the end — all that is good hitting,” Walker said. “It’s easy to look at that and be like, ‘Oh, they’re getting lucky.’ It’s like, yeah, that’s a part of it. But I think good hitters get lucky.
“I could’ve put the team in a better spot (in the sixth) making that play, could have cut down on some action, some traffic. We still had some momentum … That being said, they did a good job of executing when they needed to.”
Results were indifferent. The Astros remained two games up in the American League West but wasted a chance to pad their lead over the Rangers, who lost to Seattle. They’ll start Cristian Javier opposite Zack Wheeler in the series finale against the Phillies on Thursday afternoon.
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The Astros scored six runs against Cristopher Sánchez, the reigning NL Cy Young runner-up and current NL wins leader. It went for naught. They forged leads of 4-0 in the third inning and 6-4 in the fourth and held neither, despite countering Sánchez with their own ace.
Philadelphia erased the first deficit with a four-run third against Hunter Brown, ignited by tough batted-ball luck. Cam Smith wrested back a lead with a two-run home run against Sánchez in the fourth inning. Trea Turner halved it with a solo homer off Brown in the fifth, his final frame.
An apparent pitching duel between 2025 Cy Young finalists did not materialize. Brown allowed five runs — four earned — on seven hits. Six of the hits were against his slider, curveball or changeup. He threw 90 pitches to get through five innings, striking out seven. His ERA is 3.52.
Sánchez surrendered 10 hits, including home runs from Smith and Isaac Paredes. All six runs he allowed were earned. He completed the sixth, but still, an Astros team starving for offensive consistency scarcely can afford to squander such outbursts at this point.
“We did capitalize on a good approach against him,” Espada said. “We couldn’t hold that lead. But that’s just baseball, man. Good approach, we got him close to us, we elevated some pitches, we hit some home runs. We did a lot of good things offensively. We just couldn’t get enough outs and hold that lead.”
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Twelve hits tied for their second-most in a game since the trade deadline. They included a milestone hit for Jose Altuve, the 2,500th of his major-league career. Five different Astros struck two hits, including all of Jeremy Peña, Yordan Alvarez and Paredes.
The Phillies’ offense undid that effort. Their six-run sixth was the capper. Enyel De Los Santos finished it for the Astros, who used Tatsuya Imai for the final two innings. Their leverage relievers, save Blubaugh, should be available for Thursday’s finale as a result.
Houston
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
Avg.
Totals
37
7
12
7
0
6
Peña ss
5
1
2
0
0
2
.272
Alvarez dh
5
1
2
1
0
0
.312
Paredes 3b
4
1
2
3
0
1
.260
Altuve 2b
4
1
1
0
0
1
.244
Diaz c
4
0
2
1
0
0
.270
Walker 1b
4
0
0
0
0
0
.228
Varsho cf
4
1
1
0
0
0
.230
Smith rf
4
2
2
2
0
0
.216
Barrosa lf
2
0
0
0
0
1
.199
b-Wade ph
1
0
0
0
0
1
.209
Philadelphia
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
Avg.
Totals
36
11
12
11
4
12
Schwarber 1b
5
1
1
4
0
3
.242
Bohm 1b
0
0
0
0
0
0
.246
Turner ss
5
2
2
2
0
1
.243
Harper dh
4
1
1
2
1
3
.271
Arraez 2b
4
1
2
1
1
0
.318
Stott 3b
3
1
0
0
1
1
.251
Marsh lf
2
0
1
0
0
0
.268
a-Sosa ph-lf
2
1
1
1
0
1
.239
Hill rf
0
0
0
0
0
0
.246
Crawford cf
4
1
1
0
0
1
.263
Realmuto c
4
1
1
0
0
2
.215
De La Cruz rf-lf
3
2
2
1
1
0
.339
Houston
004
200
100_7
12
2
Philadelphia
004
016
00x_11
12
2
a-singled for Marsh in the 6th. b-struck out for Barrosa in the 9th.
E_Smith (6), Walker (3), Arraez (8), Schwarber (1). LOB_Houston 4, Philadelphia 5. 2B_Diaz (13), Alvarez (30), Altuve (21), Peña (18), Arraez (30). HR_Paredes (19), off Sánchez; Smith (19), off Sánchez; Turner (19), off Brown; Schwarber (44), off Blubaugh. RBIs_Alvarez (96), Paredes 3 (82), Diaz (35), Smith 2 (53), Turner 2 (56), Harper 2 (82), Arraez (58), Sosa (42), De La Cruz (12), Schwarber 4 (92). SB_Turner (19). CS_Arraez (1). S_Barrosa.
Runners left in scoring position_Houston 1 (Varsho); Philadelphia 2 (Arraez, Realmuto). RISP_Houston 5 for 9; Philadelphia 6 for 15.
Runners moved up_Peña, Alvarez, Crawford. GIDP_Paredes, Alvarez.
DP_Philadelphia 2 (Stott, Arraez, Schwarber; Arraez, Turner, Schwarber).
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
NP
ERA
5
7
5
4
0
7
90
3.52
0
3
4
3
0
0
20
5.17
1
2
2
1
1
15
3.34
0
0
0
0
1
7
4.28
2
1
0
0
3
3
43
5.20
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
NP
ERA
6
10
6
6
0
3
81
2.79
1
2
1
1
0
1
21
3.17
1
0
0
0
0
0
15
2.84
1
0
0
0
0
2
14
1.69
Inherited runners-scored_Blubaugh 3-3. WP_Imai.
ABS Challenge_Harper (Strike-Confirmed); Sánchez (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Brown (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Brown (Ball-Confirmed).
Umpires_Home, Brock Ballou; First, Jeremie Rehak; Second, Adam Beck; Third, Dan Iassogna.
T_2:54. A_38,642 (42,901).
Astros strike first against Sánchez
Sánchez entered with a 16-5 record and 2.58 ERA in 29 starts this year. In just five of them had the left-hander allowed four or more earned runs. The Astros, who entered with the fifth-fewest runs scored in the majors since the trade deadline, struck for four in the third inning.
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Smith opened it with a cue-shot single on an 0-2 changeup. A sacrifice bunt and a ground out put him at third base with two outs. Sánchez built a full count to Alvarez, who golfed a changeup to the gap in right-center field. Smith jogged home on the double.
It was just the third hit by a left-handed hitter in 31 at-bats ending on Sánchez’s changeup this season to that point, per Baseball Savant. It sparked a big inning.
Sánchez fell behind 3-0 to Paredes, who pounced on a 3-0 sinker, driving it 409 feet to left-center. It was the first time Paredes has homered on a 3-0 pitch in his career. He’d put a 3-0 pitch in play just six times previously, per Baseball Savant.
Altuve drove a first-pitch sinker for a double and a milestone hit. Yainer Diaz sent a first-pitch changeup back up the middle for a single to score him. Eight hitters saw just 20 total pitches from Sánchez in the inning, but they built a 4-0 lead — one the Phillies promptly erased.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Luis Arraez, right, is tagged out by Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña after trying to steal second base during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber celebrates after hitting a grand slam against Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber celebrates after hitting a grand slam against Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Philadelphia Phillies’ Trea Turner celebrates after hitting a home run against Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Philadelphia Phillies’ Trea Turner, right, rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown during the fifth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Cam Smith celebrates after hitting a two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Cam Smith watches after hitting a two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Cam Smith hits a two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve celebrates after hitting a double against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez for his 2,500th career hit during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve celebrates after hitting a double against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez for his 2,500th career hit during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve watches after hitting a double against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez for his 2,500th career hit during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve hits a double against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez for his 2,500th career hit during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ fans cheer as Jose Altuve prepares to bat during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Isaac Paredes, right, rounds the bases past Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Isaac Paredes watches after hitting a two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Isaac Paredes hits a two-run home run against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez runs after hitting a run-scoring double against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez watches after hitting a run-scoring double against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros’ Hunter Brown pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh wipes his face after giving up a grand slam to Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber during the sixth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Matt Slocum/Associated Press
How did Hunter Brown pitch?
Brown, staked to a lead, could not deliver a shutdown inning. Batted-ball luck burned him again as the Phillies answered Houston’s four-run third with their own.
“I thought in that third inning they got some people on base, they started the runners, hitting behind runners,” Espada said. “They got creative there and created some opportunities to score some runs and capitalize.”
They built it with five singles. None of the first three carried an exit velocity above 90.6 mph, according to Statcast; 95 mph is the hard-hit threshold. None of the five were against Brown’s sinker or four-seam fastball, surely frustrating given his faith in those pitches.
Realmuto chopped a slider up the middle for a leadoff hit. De La Cruz poked a slider through the right side of the infield at 73.8 mph off the bat, sending Realmuto to third. Brown struck out Schwarber and built a 1-2 count against Turner.
Turner, on a curveball off the plate, struck a grounder through the right side. Realmuto scored. Turner stole second before Bryce Harper yanked a changeup into right at 98.6 mph off the bat. Both runners scored. Smith’s throw to the plate sailed, with nobody backing up.
Harper took second, allowing him to score when Arraez stung a single by Brown’s head and into center field, capping a four-run rally. Diaz threw out Arraez trying to steal second to puncture it before Brown struck out Bryson Stott to end the inning.
“The offense did a great job throwing up four runs on the board there and coughed them right back up,” Brown said. “So it definitely didn’t feel good.
“A bunch of singles, probably the best hit ball was Arraez. But at the end of the day, they’re hits and they count just the same as if they’re hit 120 (mph). So yeah, that was just unfortunate.”
Jose Altuve attains a milestone
Altuve continued his climb up the all-time hits leaderboard with his third-inning double, reaching 2,500 career hits. He drove Sánchez’s sinker just out of the reach of center fielder Justin Crawford and cruised into second base. The Astros stood along the railing of their dugout and applauded.
Altuve, 36, is the 103rd player to reach 2,500 regular-season hits in Major League Baseball, according to Baseball Reference. He joined Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who attained the benchmark in June, as the only active players with 2,500 hits.
The second baseman and face of the Astros franchise, once turned away from a tryout in Venezuela as a teenager, reached the milestone at age 36 years and 126 days and in his 2,095th regular-season game. He and Craig Biggio are the only players to total 2,500 hits with the Astros.
Altuve and Biggio are two of just 12 players in MLB history to amass at least 2,500 hits, 250 home runs and 300 stolen bases. Altuve, for now, is one of three of those players with a lifetime batting average of at least .300, along with Derek Jeter and Willie Mays.
“It means a lot, obviously,” Altuve said. “It’s a big number — 2,500 is a lot of hits. You think about all the hits, all the years you’ve been playing here with this amazing organization, my teammates. I’m thankful with God, my family, my teammates again. It’s a great moment. Really sad we lost the game, but we’ll come back tomorrow and win. But this is a big hit for me.”