{"id":440847,"date":"2026-09-19T07:50:10","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T07:50:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/440847\/"},"modified":"2026-09-19T07:50:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T07:50:10","slug":"houston-astros-cant-get-the-timely-hits-and-fall-to-atlanta-braves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/440847\/","title":{"rendered":"Houston Astros can’t get the timely hits and fall to Atlanta Braves"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros’ Daulton Varsho loses his bat during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves shortstop Maricio Dubon greets fans as the Houston Astros honor him before a baseball game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves shortstop Maricio Dubon greets fans as the Houston Astros honor him before a baseball game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. (13) prepares to bat during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tyler Mahle throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Tyler Mahle throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros left fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. catches a fly ball hit by Atlanta Braves designated hitter Drake Baldwin during the third inning of a baseball game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Michael Harris II watches his home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Michael Harris II celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Michael Harris II (23) returns to the dugout after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Maricio Dubon, left, celebrates after a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Maricio Dubon (14) talks with Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pe\u00f1a (3) and second baseman Jose Altuve (27) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) scores during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve singles during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve (27) is out at second base ahead of a throw to Atlanta Braves shortstop Maricio Dubon (14) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Maricio Dubon reacts as he flies out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Fans<\/p>\n

Fans reach to catch a foul ball hit by Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Austin Riley breaks a bat as he lines out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. hits a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"of<\/p>\n

of a baseball game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. celebrates after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. tosses his bat after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros pitcher AJ Blubaugh leaves the mound during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr., right, celebrates with designated hitter Drake Baldwin after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Atlanta<\/p>\n

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy (12) and pitcher Didier Fuentes celebrate after the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press\"Houston<\/p>\n

Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) catches a fly ball hit by Atlanta Braves’ Sean Murphy during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Houston, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. (AP Photo\/Ashley Landis)<\/p>\n

Ashley Landis\/Associated Press<\/p>\n

A lull gave way to life. Twelve straight Houston Astros<\/a> hitters went to home plate and were turned away before LaMonte Wade Jr. flared a single to open Friday\u2019s eighth inning. Two more failed to advance him before a four-pitch walk to Yordan Alvarez brought up the potential tying run.<\/p>\n

Isaac Paredes breathed hope into a faltering lineup, his soft line drive finding grass and driving in Wade. Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. extinguished it. Jose Altuve flared a flyball into shallow right field. On a full dive, Acu\u00f1a caught it and curtailed the Astros\u2019 final threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cOff the bat I thought that ball was going to fall,\u201d said Astros manager Joe Espada. \u201cBut I wasn\u2019t surprised when he came up with it. He\u2019s so good over there, so fast, and he takes such good routes. When he came up with that, I wasn\u2019t surprised. But off the bat, I thought we had a good chance of that ball falling.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Atlanta
\nAB
\nR
\nH
\nBI
\nBB
\nSO
\nAvg.<\/p>\n

Totals
\n39
\n6
\n11
\n6
\n2
\n10<\/p>\n

Baldwin dh
\n4
\n2
\n2
\n0
\n1
\n1
\n.279<\/p>\n

Acu\u00f1a rf
\n5
\n1
\n1
\n2
\n0
\n1
\n.256<\/p>\n

Olson 1b
\n5
\n2
\n3
\n2
\n0
\n0
\n.253<\/p>\n

Harris cf
\n5
\n1
\n3
\n2
\n0
\n1
\n.293<\/p>\n

Dub\u00f3n ss
\n5
\n0
\n2
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n.273<\/p>\n

Albies 2b
\n3
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n1
\n.244<\/p>\n

Yastrzemski lf
\n4
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n2
\n.225<\/p>\n

Riley 3b
\n4
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n3
\n.220<\/p>\n

S.Murphy c
\n4
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n.183<\/p>\n

Houston
\nAB
\nR
\nH
\nBI
\nBB
\nSO
\nAvg.<\/p>\n

Totals
\n32
\n2
\n5
\n2
\n2
\n12<\/p>\n

Pe\u00f1a ss
\n4
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n2
\n.276<\/p>\n

Alvarez dh
\n2
\n1
\n1
\n0
\n2
\n0
\n.312<\/p>\n

Paredes 3b
\n4
\n0
\n2
\n2
\n0
\n1
\n.259<\/p>\n

1-Allen pr-3b
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n.279<\/p>\n

Altuve 2b
\n4
\n0
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n.243<\/p>\n

Varsho cf
\n4
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n2
\n.222<\/p>\n

Walker 1b
\n4
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n2
\n.220<\/p>\n

Trammell rf
\n4
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n3
\n.202<\/p>\n

Wade lf
\n3
\n1
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n.215<\/p>\n

V\u00e1zquez c
\n2
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n.206<\/p>\n

a-Diaz ph-c
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n1
\n.276<\/p>\n

Atlanta
\n000
\n200
\n202_6
\n11
\n0<\/p>\n

Houston
\n000
\n100
\n010_2
\n5
\n1<\/p>\n

a-struck out for V\u00e1zquez in the 8th.<\/p>\n

1-ran for Paredes in the 8th.<\/p>\n

E_Pe\u00f1a (12). LOB_Atlanta 8, Houston 5. 2B_Dub\u00f3n (27), Baldwin (19), Alvarez (32). HR_Harris (26), off Lambert; Acu\u00f1a (19), off Blubaugh; Olson (40), off De Los Santos. RBIs_Harris 2 (85), Acu\u00f1a 2 (51), Olson 2 (88), Paredes 2 (88).<\/p>\n

Runners left in scoring position_Atlanta 4 (Yastrzemski, Albies, Riley 2); Houston 2 (Altuve, Trammell). RISP_Atlanta 1 for 8; Houston 2 for 6.<\/p>\n

Runners moved up_Dub\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

Atlanta
\nIP
\nH
\nR
\nER
\nBB
\nSO
\nNP
\nERA<\/p>\n

Mahle, W, 7-10
\n6
\n3
\n1
\n1
\n1
\n6
\n98
\n3.81<\/p>\n

Fuentes, H, 18
\n2
\n2
\n1
\n1
\n1
\n3
\n40
\n2.27<\/p>\n

Iglesias
\n1
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n3
\n11
\n2.68<\/p>\n

Houston
\nIP
\nH
\nR
\nER
\nBB
\nSO
\nNP
\nERA<\/p>\n

Lambert, L, 8-10
\n5
\n1-3
\n6
\n2
\n2
\n1
\n6
\n87
\n3.70<\/p>\n

Blubaugh
\n1
\n1
\n2
\n2
\n1
\n1
\n17
\n3.42<\/p>\n

Sousa
\n2-3
\n2
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n0
\n14
\n5.40<\/p>\n

De Los Santos
\n2
\n2
\n2
\n2
\n0
\n3
\n30
\n4.79<\/p>\n

Inherited runners-scored_Blubaugh 3-0.<\/p>\n

ABS Challenge_Acu\u00f1a (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Mahle (Ball-Confirmed); Altuve (Strike-Confirmed); Harris (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Trammell (Strike-Confirmed).<\/p>\n

Umpires_Home, Lance Barrett; First, Nic Lentz; Second, Edwin Moscoso; Third, Lance Barksdale.<\/p>\n

T_2:42. A_36,921 (41,000).<\/p>\n

Acu\u00f1a\u2019s play preserved a two-run Atlanta lead. Matt Olson padded it with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, puncturing any idea of a Houston comeback in a 6-2 loss at Daikin Park.<\/p>\n

For the second time in a week, the Astros saw an opponent clinch a playoff spot against them. Atlanta, like the Rays last Friday, secured a berth. Houston fell back to 77-77 and a first-place tie in the AL West with the Rangers, who beat Toronto, with eight games left in its regular season.<\/p>\n

Atlanta\u2019s lineup struck three two-run home runs. Michael Harris II hit one against starter Peter Lambert, who pitched into the sixth inning. Acu\u00f1a accounted for another, against reliever AJ Blubaugh, and Olson struck the last against right-hander Enyel De Los Santos.<\/p>\n

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

The Astros totaled five hits. They did not have one until the fourth, when Alvarez doubled and Paredes and Altuve singled, all in succession, against Atlanta starter Tyler Mahle. In a 2-1 game at that point, it put the potential tying run in scoring position with no outs.<\/p>\n

Houston\u2019s next 12 batters were retired in order. Its lineup finished 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Paredes had both of those hits. Acu\u00f1a prevented another, punctuating another ineffective showing by an offense threatening to undermine its postseason chances.<\/p>\n

Lower half of lineup absent<\/p>\n

Wade\u2019s eighth-inning single was the only hit Houston received from the 5-through-9 spots in the lineup. Daulton Varsho, Christian Walker, Taylor Trammell, Wade and catcher Christian V\u00e1zquez combined to go 1-for-17. Yainer Diaz, who pinch-hit for V\u00e1zquez in the eighth inning, struck out.<\/p>\n

Varsho, Trammell and Wade each hit one of the Astros\u2019 five solo home runs in their win Friday over the Royals. Still, across Houston\u2019s last nine games, Varsho is 4-for-33 and Walker is 1-for-28. Trammell, who returned Thursday from the paternity list, is 3-for-19 in that span.<\/p>\n

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

Cam Smith, who did not start Friday despite Mahle owning reverse splits, is hitless in his last 16 at-bats. The lineup\u2019s lack of depth creates undue pressure on Jeremy Pe\u00f1a, who went 0-for-4 on Friday, Alvarez and Paredes in the top three spots.<\/p>\n

Friday marked the 23rd time in 41 games since the trade deadline that Houston has scored three runs or fewer. Its record is 19-22 in that stretch. Extracting some impact from the lower half of the lineup seems imperative over its final eight games \u2013 and beyond, if it reaches the playoffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re trying,\u201d Espada said. \u201cThese guys are working their tails off to really try to put some good at-bats together, and today wasn\u2019t the case.\u201d<\/p>\n

How did Peter Lambert pitch?<\/p>\n

Lambert kept the Astros in striking distance while Mahle quieted their offense. The right-hander worked into the sixth inning (or later) for the 17th time in 27 starts this season. He allowed two runs \u2013 though he required an assist to preserve that line.<\/p>\n

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

\u201cGood and bad,\u201d Lambert said. \u201cI thought I had a pretty sharp first three innings and then scuffled a little bit after that. Overall, it was all right, though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lambert retired 10 of his first 11 batters, the exception reaching on an error. Olson struck Atlanta\u2019s first hit with a fourth-inning single. Harris hit Lambert\u2019s next pitch, a slurve, the other way into the Crawford Boxes for his 26th home run.<\/p>\n

Olson and Harris singled to open the sixth. Lambert exited after a one-out walk to Ozzie Albies filled the bases. He issued one walk while striking out six. Atlanta averaged an 87.5 mph exit velocity against him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s just been really good all year,\u201d Espada said. \u201cCouldn\u2019t score enough runs for him, but he just competes his tail off.\u201d<\/p>\n

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

Lambert owns a 3.70 ERA in 151 major-league innings this season. No other Astros pitcher has reached 100 innings, though Hunter Brown, who has 97, should get there when he starts Sunday\u2019s series finale.<\/p>\n

AJ Blubaugh escapes, then blinks<\/p>\n

Steven Okert has been Houston\u2019s fireman this year, inheriting the most runners among its relievers, but is on the injured list recovering from a hamstring strain. So Blubaugh, who has inherited the third-most, replaced Lambert with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth.<\/p>\n

Blubaugh struck out Mike Yastrzemski and induced a lineout from Austin Riley to escape the jam, briefly preserving a 2-1 game. Blubaugh has inherited 33 runners this season and stranded 25 of them, allowing 24% to score. League average entering Friday was 31%.<\/p>\n

\u201cPete pitched a great outing,\u201d Blubaugh said. \u201cI\u2019m glad I could keep those runs on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the seventh, Blubaugh created his own jam. A one-out walk to Drake Baldwin brought up Acu\u00f1a, who lasered a first-pitch fastball into the Crawford Boxes at 111 mph off the bat. Blubaugh has been scored upon in four of his last six outings, allowing three home runs in that stretch.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never want to walk the leadoff guy,\u201d Blubaugh said. \u201cAnd then Acu\u00f1a, he saw it right away and put it over the fence. Not ideal, but hopefully I get another opportunity in the next few days and get in and make it better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mauricio Dub\u00f3n returns to Houston<\/p>\n

Dub\u00f3n, the former Astros utilityman and fan favorite, returned to Daikin Park for the first time since he was traded to Atlanta last offseason for infielder Nick Allen.<\/p>\n

Fans welcomed him warmly. Dub\u00f3n received an ovation after the Astros played a pregame tribute video, doffing his cap near the visitors\u2019 dugout and waving across to Houston\u2019s. He received another before his first at-bat and doffed his helmet.<\/p>\n

Dub\u00f3n, who entered batting .272 and slotted fifth in Atlanta\u2019s lineup, went 2-for-4 with a single and a double. He was on the receiving end of a playful bump from Alvarez after the slugger crossed second base on his fourth-inning double.<\/p>\n

Alvarez\u2019s double was the Astros\u2019 lone extra-base hit. Their lineup drew two walks and had 12 strikeouts against Mahle, Didier Fuentes and Raisel Iglesias. Atlanta\u2019s bullpen entered with the third-lowest ERA in the majors, placing an onus on Houston\u2019s lineup to strike earlier the next two days.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Houston Astros’ Daulton Varsho loses his bat during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":440848,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[56,58,57],"class_list":["post-440847","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\/440847","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=440847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/440847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/440848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=440847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=440847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=440847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}