{"id":383774,"date":"2026-07-23T12:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T12:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/383774\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T12:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T12:19:10","slug":"houston-astros-jeremy-pena-words-bat-ignite-sweep-of-miami-marlins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/383774\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Astros: Jeremy Pe\u00f1a words, bat ignite sweep of Miami Marlins"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"After<\/p>\n

After a humbling weekend, Jeremy\u00a0Pe\u00f1a called for urgency. He then walked the walk, homering in all three games against the Marlins to spark\u00a0the Astros to a sweep that has them back near the AL West lead.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, right, celebrates with Jeremy Pe\u00f1a (3) after hitting a 2-run home run to give the Astros a 4-2 lead during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez celebrates in the dugout after hitting a 2-run home run to give the Astros a 4-2 lead during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) reacts after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, right, celebrates with Jeremy Pe\u00f1a (3) after hitting a 2-run home run to give the Astros a 4-2 lead during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez reacts after hitting a 2-run home run to give the Astros a 4-2 lead during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez hits a 2-run home run to give the Astros a 4-2 lead during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros relief pitcher Enyel de Los Santos (65) reacts after striking out Miami Marlins right fielder Esteury Ruiz during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros relief pitcher Enyel de Los Santos (65) reacts after striking out Miami Marlins right fielder Esteury Ruiz during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes (15) looks for a play to be reviewed after Miami Marlins Esteury Ruiz slide into third base and dislodged the ball from Parades during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) reacts after striking out to end the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Jeremy Pe\u00f1a (3) hits a single during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros pitcher Peter Lambert (38) fields a toss from first baseman Christian Walker to get out Miami Marlins Xavier Edwards during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros left fielder Lucas Spence (28) fields a fly ball by Miami Marlins Otto Lopez during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros pitcher Peter Lambert (38) walks back to the dugout after giving up a pair of runs during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros right fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. (31) throws to the infield alongside center fielder Lucas Spence after fielding Miami Marlins Javier Sanoja\u2019s RBI double off the wall during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Jeremy Pe\u00f1a (3) reacts in the dugout after hitting a solo home during the third inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Jeremy Pe\u00f1a, right, celebrates with Isaac Paredes after hitting a solo home during the third inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Jeremy Pe\u00f1a celebrates after hitting a solo home during the third inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Lucas Spence (28) is tagged out y Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack attempting to steal home during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Christian V\u00e1zquez (2) bunts the ball to Miami Marlins first baseman Kyle Stowers during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Nick Allen (20) reacts after hitting a RBI single during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Nick Allen (20) dives back to first after hitting a RBI single during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Nick Allen (20) hits a RBI single during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Lucas Spence (28) hits into a force out during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros Christian Walker (8) hits a single during the second inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros pitching coach Josh Miller, right, talks with starting pitcher Peter Lambert during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pe\u00f1a (3) tries to field a throw to second to get out Miami Marlins Heriberto Hern\u00e1ndez during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert (38) delivers during the first inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros closer Bryan Abreu (52) delivers during the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros closer Bryan Abreu (52) delivers during the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros draft prospect Jack Radel speaks to the media before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros draft prospect Logan Hughes speaks to the media before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros draft prospect Jack Radel, right, visits with manager Joe Espada before an MLB baseball game in Houston, Wednesday, July 22, 2026.<\/p>\n

Jason Fochtman\/Houston Chronicle<\/p>\n

In a sparse clubhouse last Sunday, silent but for him, Jeremy Pe\u00f1a sounded a note of urgency<\/a>. A sweep by the Orioles had left the Houston Astros<\/a> seven games under .500 and, in the shortstop\u2019s words, \u201cat a point in the season where we need to start getting results now.\u201d<\/p>\n

A club populated by veterans and steeped in playoff runs isn\u2019t prone to panic, making Pe\u00f1a\u2019s appraisal about as direct as any offered this summer. Awaiting a significant push that has yet to materialize, it is testing the limits of patience.<\/p>\n

Less than two weeks remain until a trade deadline at which Houston has stated it will be a buyer. Last weekend hardly supported the stance, as three lackluster losses out of the All-Star break<\/a> dropped the Astros further in the standings of a forlorn American League.<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, it was a slap in the face,\u201d designated hitter Yordan Alvarez said Wednesday night, through an interpreter. \u201cI think it was a slap in the face for us to wake up and respond to that and be able to go out there and play the way we can.\u201d<\/p>\n

For three nights against a spiraling opponent, they did. The Astros responded to Baltimore\u2019s sweep by sweeping the Marlins to inch back to within four games of .500. A win in Wednesday\u2019s finale<\/a> left them two games back in the AL West and 3 \u00bd games out of a wild-card spot.<\/p>\n

Houston did not trail at the end of any inning during the series. Its offense scored 18 runs in the three games, fueled by Pe\u00f1a, who missed half of the Baltimore series due to a hamstring cramp<\/a>, and whose impact on the lineup was on full display.<\/p>\n

Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a is the Astros\u2019 sparkplug, if not necessarily their spokesman. Third baseman Carlos Correa is that voice when healthy, but ankle surgery has sidelined him for the season. Pe\u00f1a\u2019s candor after the Orioles series invited question of whether a similar message was shared in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like in this clubhouse it doesn\u2019t need to be said,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said Wednesday night. \u201cThe expectation is to win. And we know that when we\u2019re not doing that, everyone\u2019s on the same page\u00a0\u2014 how do we get there? Everyone\u2019s showing up every day, everyone\u2019s trying to figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pivot, still, needed to occur.\u00a0Pe\u00f1a helped provide it Monday night with a grand slam that keyed a six-run second inning<\/a>, equaling the Houston offense\u2019s output in three games against Baltimore. He led off the first inning with a home run Tuesday<\/a>, then, in a game in which the Astros never trailed.<\/p>\n

BATTERS
\nAVG
\nOBA
\nAB
\nR
\nH
\n2B
\n3B
\nHR
\nRBI
\nBB
\nSO
\nSB
\nCS
\nE<\/p>\n

Team Totals
\n.242
\n.315
\n3488
\n473
\n843
\n156
\n8
\n142
\n452
\n341
\n841
\n35
\n14
\n43<\/p>\n

Alvarez
\n.328
\n.433
\n372
\n69
\n122
\n20
\n0
\n34
\n77
\n66
\n76
\n1
\n0
\n2<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a
\n.302
\n.362
\n212
\n42
\n64
\n9
\n0
\n9
\n28
\n17
\n38
\n8
\n1
\n5<\/p>\n

Correa
\n.279
\n.369
\n122
\n22
\n34
\n8
\n0
\n3
\n16
\n18
\n26
\n1
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

Delgado
\n.273
\n.314
\n33
\n3
\n9
\n1
\n0
\n1
\n4
\n2
\n5
\n0
\n0
\n2<\/p>\n

Paredes
\n.263
\n.354
\n354
\n42
\n93
\n18
\n1
\n14
\n54
\n39
\n62
\n0
\n0
\n6<\/p>\n

Shewmake
\n.256
\n.272
\n78
\n10
\n20
\n4
\n0
\n3
\n9
\n2
\n13
\n0
\n0
\n2<\/p>\n

Allen
\n.242
\n.288
\n95
\n14
\n23
\n3
\n0
\n1
\n11
\n6
\n23
\n2
\n0
\n2<\/p>\n

Diaz
\n.238
\n.267
\n181
\n20
\n43
\n9
\n0
\n6
\n23
\n7
\n30
\n0
\n1
\n2<\/p>\n

Walker
\n.234
\n.309
\n372
\n50
\n87
\n19
\n1
\n20
\n58
\n33
\n97
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Altuve
\n.232
\n.300
\n306
\n47
\n71
\n14
\n1
\n12
\n29
\n29
\n74
\n2
\n2
\n3<\/p>\n

Trammell
\n.231
\n.290
\n121
\n14
\n28
\n5
\n1
\n3
\n12
\n9
\n44
\n1
\n1
\n1<\/p>\n

Dezenzo
\n.231
\n.306
\n65
\n11
\n15
\n4
\n0
\n1
\n3
\n7
\n27
\n1
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

Harris
\n.226
\n.286
\n31
\n4
\n7
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n4
\n2
\n6
\n2
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Loperfido
\n.216
\n.314
\n102
\n13
\n22
\n7
\n1
\n1
\n12
\n14
\n31
\n1
\n1
\n1<\/p>\n

Smith
\n.210
\n.283
\n334
\n39
\n70
\n13
\n1
\n12
\n34
\n32
\n90
\n10
\n1
\n4<\/p>\n

V\u00e1zquez
\n.210
\n.265
\n181
\n18
\n38
\n6
\n0
\n5
\n22
\n14
\n35
\n1
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Meyers
\n.206
\n.264
\n136
\n14
\n28
\n6
\n0
\n3
\n11
\n10
\n30
\n1
\n2
\n0<\/p>\n

Spence
\n.200
\n.273
\n20
\n2
\n4
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n2
\n6
\n0
\n1
\n0<\/p>\n

Matthews
\n.197
\n.250
\n208
\n23
\n41
\n5
\n1
\n7
\n22
\n15
\n71
\n4
\n4
\n1<\/p>\n

Wade
\n.170
\n.304
\n47
\n8
\n8
\n2
\n0
\n2
\n8
\n9
\n13
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Price
\n.167
\n.231
\n12
\n1
\n2
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n6
\n0
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

Cole
\n.157
\n.189
\n51
\n4
\n8
\n1
\n0
\n3
\n8
\n1
\n21
\n0
\n0
\n1<\/p>\n

Johnson
\n.143
\n.294
\n14
\n1
\n2
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n2
\n3
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Whitcomb
\n.130
\n.167
\n23
\n2
\n3
\n0
\n0
\n2
\n5
\n1
\n11
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Salazar
\n.056
\n.227
\n18
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n3
\n3
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

PITCHERS
\nW
\nL
\nERA
\nG
\nGS
\nSV
\nIP
\nH
\nR
\nER
\nHR
\nBB
\nSO<\/p>\n

Team Totals
\n50
\n54
\n4.71
\n104
\n104
\n30
\n921.1
\n829
\n518
\n482
\n142
\n453
\n915<\/p>\n

Ullola
\n0
\n0
\n0.00
\n2
\n0
\n0
\n4
\n2
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n7<\/p>\n

Meyers
\n0
\n0
\n0.00
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Santa
\n0
\n1
\n1.17
\n10
\n0
\n0
\n15.1
\n8
\n6
\n2
\n1
\n6
\n9<\/p>\n

Hader
\n3
\n1
\n1.47
\n20
\n0
\n11
\n18.1
\n10
\n3
\n3
\n1
\n8
\n29<\/p>\n

VanWey
\n1
\n0
\n1.50
\n5
\n0
\n0
\n6
\n5
\n2
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n5<\/p>\n

Okert
\n3
\n1
\n2.13
\n50
\n1
\n0
\n50.2
\n30
\n13
\n12
\n5
\n12
\n52<\/p>\n

Lambert
\n8
\n5
\n3.03
\n17
\n17
\n0
\n98
\n72
\n33
\n33
\n11
\n38
\n94<\/p>\n

King
\n2
\n3
\n3.40
\n42
\n0
\n6
\n45
\n43
\n19
\n17
\n6
\n16
\n35<\/p>\n

Pearson
\n1
\n0
\n3.60
\n16
\n0
\n1
\n20
\n16
\n10
\n8
\n1
\n12
\n16<\/p>\n

Blubaugh
\n4
\n2
\n3.86
\n38
\n0
\n0
\n63
\n50
\n28
\n27
\n8
\n31
\n66<\/p>\n

Brown
\n1
\n1
\n4.05
\n8
\n8
\n0
\n40
\n30
\n20
\n18
\n5
\n28
\n43<\/p>\n

De Los Santos
\n1
\n3
\n4.12
\n45
\n0
\n5
\n48
\n44
\n25
\n22
\n5
\n12
\n46<\/p>\n

Teng
\n4
\n6
\n4.21
\n24
\n10
\n0
\n66.1
\n60
\n35
\n31
\n10
\n29
\n66<\/p>\n

Arrighetti
\n7
\n5
\n4.34
\n16
\n16
\n0
\n87
\n66
\n44
\n42
\n12
\n48
\n87<\/p>\n

Roa
\n0
\n1
\n5.19
\n7
\n0
\n0
\n8.2
\n10
\n5
\n5
\n1
\n7
\n6<\/p>\n

Abreu
\n2
\n3
\n5.29
\n37
\n0
\n6
\n34
\n27
\n22
\n20
\n7
\n27
\n43<\/p>\n

Bolton
\n0
\n1
\n5.40
\n8
\n3
\n1
\n20
\n21
\n12
\n12
\n3
\n14
\n22<\/p>\n

Imai
\n6
\n4
\n5.59
\n14
\n14
\n0
\n58
\n49
\n36
\n36
\n9
\n36
\n71<\/p>\n

Burrows
\n4
\n9
\n5.99
\n18
\n17
\n0
\n94.2
\n112
\n69
\n63
\n21
\n35
\n75<\/p>\n

Sousa
\n0
\n0
\n6.23
\n6
\n0
\n0
\n4.1
\n3
\n3
\n3
\n0
\n5
\n5<\/p>\n

McCullers
\n2
\n3
\n6.86
\n8
\n8
\n0
\n39.1
\n38
\n32
\n30
\n7
\n22
\n43<\/p>\n

Murray
\n0
\n0
\n7.43
\n8
\n0
\n0
\n13.1
\n19
\n11
\n11
\n1
\n7
\n8<\/p>\n

Weiss
\n0
\n3
\n7.62
\n9
\n2
\n0
\n26
\n35
\n24
\n22
\n8
\n20
\n30<\/p>\n

Blanco
\n0
\n0
\n7.71
\n1
\n1
\n0
\n4.2
\n2
\n4
\n4
\n2
\n3
\n8<\/p>\n

France
\n0
\n0
\n8.10
\n3
\n0
\n0
\n6.2
\n6
\n6
\n6
\n1
\n5
\n4<\/p>\n

Salazar
\n0
\n0
\n9.00
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n1
\n1
\n1
\n1
\n0
\n0<\/p>\n

Alexander
\n1
\n1
\n9.33
\n4
\n2
\n0
\n18.1
\n21
\n19
\n19
\n4
\n8
\n14<\/p>\n

Javier
\n0
\n1
\n9.37
\n7
\n4
\n0
\n16.1
\n21
\n17
\n17
\n3
\n15
\n14<\/p>\n

Gordon
\n0
\n0
\n11.57
\n4
\n1
\n0
\n9.1
\n21
\n12
\n12
\n6
\n3
\n11<\/p>\n

Mu\u00f1oz
\n0
\n0
\n15.75
\n3
\n0
\n0
\n4
\n7
\n7
\n7
\n3
\n6
\n6<\/p>\n

In the finale, Pe\u00f1a struck three more hits against Miami ace Sandy Alcantara, including a home run and an infield single that preceded Alvarez\u2019s tiebreaking two-run home run in the eighth inning of a 5-2 win. Those two and Isaac Paredes did enough damage to carry Houston\u2019s top-heavy lineup in the series.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI feel like my job in the leadoff spot is to kind of set the tone for the team, whether that\u2019s to get on base, whether that\u2019s to see what the pitcher\u2019s got for that day,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said. \u201cBut I feel like Yordan is putting together such a special season that you obviously want to be on base when he\u2019s up to bat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a and Alvarez combined to go 12-for-24 with six home runs during the series, driving in 10 of the 18 runs Houston scored. Paredes drove in four, three on a pivotal home run Tuesday that followed Alvarez sprinting to first base on a third-strike wild pitch to extend the inning.<\/p>\n

Alvarez ended Wednesday leading the majors in home runs and RBIs and second in batting average, a legitimate Triple Crown contender<\/a> anchoring the Astros\u2019 lineup. It\u2019s worth noting, still, that the Astros are 29-24 this season when Pe\u00f1a is in the starting lineup and 21-30 when he is not.<\/p>\n

The dynamic their top three hitters displayed against Miami enhances the argument for the Astros to augment their roster before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. So does a division in which no club was above .500 as of Wednesday night, mediocrity keeping them afloat despite a 50-54 record.<\/p>\n

Nine games remain for Houston until the deadline, the last three against the AL West-leading Rangers. Road series against the White Sox and Angels could bring clarity to its approach. Sweeping the Marlins, at least, avoided amplifying questions about whether it should consider an about-face.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s a great bounce-back from last series,\u201d Pe\u00f1a said. \u201cIt was a tough one. But we turned the page and showed up, played great baseball, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve got to keep doing moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n

Alcantara allowed only Pe\u00f1a\u2019s solo home run and an RBI single by Nick Allen in his first seven innings Wednesday. In a tied game, and at 97 pitches, the right-hander returned to the mound for the eighth.<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a bounced his first-pitch sinker up the middle. Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez speared it, but a quick throw to first forced by Pe\u00f1a\u2019s speed sailed wide. That brought up Alvarez, who had gone back-to-back with Pe\u00f1a after the former\u2019s grand slam in Monday\u2019s series opener.<\/p>\n

\u201cI always joke around with him about that; I like for him to do that stuff and motivate me,\u201d Alvarez said.<\/p>\n

Alvarez, whose exploits this year have at times left teammates awed, sent a 1-1 fastball from Alcantara into an archway in left-center field at Daikin Park for his 34th home run of the season. Paredes added an insurance run by hitting a full-count fastball from Alcantara over the Crawford Boxes.<\/p>\n

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It punctuated a series that realized the results called for by Pe\u00f1a, who owns a .354\/.395\/.608 slash line across his Past 21 games, a timely surge to mirror the one his team seeks.<\/p>\n

\u201cJeremy is one of our leaders,\u201d manager Joe Espada said. \u201cHe\u2019s our sparkplug in our lineup, both sides of the ball, and he couldn\u2019t have said it any better. We need to carry this momentum. This is the time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After a humbling weekend, Jeremy\u00a0Pe\u00f1a called for urgency. He then walked the walk, homering in all three games…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":383775,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,58,57],"class_list":["post-383774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-houston","tag-houston","tag-houston-headlines","tag-houston-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=383774"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/383774\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/383775"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=383774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=383774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=383774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}