New York Mets at Houston Astros
· Major League Baseball2 - 4
Bregman homers and Valdez outpitches Verlander as the Astros beat the Mets 4-2 to end their skid
With the three-time Cy Young Award winner gone to the New York Mets this season, that role shifted to Framber Valdez. And on Tuesday night, the left-hander outpitched his former teammate to give the Astros a much-needed win.
Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer and Valdez threw eight strong innings as Houston snapped a five-game slide with a 4-2 win over the Mets.
“Framber was incredible today,” Bregman said. “Verlander, for five years, was incredible for us. Whenever we needed a (win) he was there and (now) Framber’s been that guy for us.”
Valdez (7-5) took over as Houston’s ace this year following Verlander’s departure after winning the AL Cy Young Award last season. Valdez didn’t allow a baserunner until the sixth and held the Mets scoreless until the eighth.
“I had a lot of fun going against him,” Valdez said through a translator. “This was a very fun outing.”
The Astros led by one in the third before Bregman connected off Verlander (2-4) for the 150th home run of his career to make it 3-0.
“A bit frustrated, a 3-0 homer,” Verlander said. “I know Breggy does his homework and just sold out for a heater there. So that’s on me. Should have known a little better.”
Valdez yielded four hits and two runs with nine strikeouts to leave his ERA at 2.27, which ranks second in the majors.
“He was great,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “He gave us all he had.”
Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless ninth for his 13th save.
Verlander, who helped Houston to two World Series titles, allowed eight hits and four runs in seven innings in his first outing against his former team.
Jose Altuve drove in two runs to help the Astros end their longest losing streak of the season and bounce back after an 11-1 walloping in the series opener.
“I hope we don't go through a streak like that the rest of the year,” Baker said. “It seemed like we hadn't won in a month.”
The Mets had just one hit on a single by Mark Canha in the sixth when Tommy Pham singled to right field to start the eighth. Francisco Álvarez then doubled on a ball that rolled to the warning track.
Corey Julks raced to make a nifty catch in left field on a ball hit by Jeff McNeil before a sacrifice fly by Canha scored Pham to cut the lead to 4-1. Eduardo Escobar singled to send another run home before Valdez retired Brandon Nimmo for the third out.
Julks doubled to start the Houston third before a one-out single by Martín Maldonado. The Astros took a 1-0 lead when Julks scored on a sacrifice fly by Altuve.
Bregman then launched his 10th homer into the seats in left field to make it 3-0.
Julks hit an infield single with no outs in the seventh and moved to second on a groundout by Maldonado for the second out. The Astros pushed the lead to 4-0 when Altuve singled on a grounder to center field.
“The last one really bugs me," Verlander said. “It just seems like a lot of the balls that were put in play just found a hole.”
Valdez was perfect until Canha singled on a liner to shallow right field with one out in the sixth. Valdez still faced the minimum in that inning after Escobar grounded into a double play.
Valdez walked Francisco Lindor with two outs in the seventh before shortstop Jeremy Peña made a nice play on a grounder hit by Pete Alonso to end the inning.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP José Urquidy (right shoulder inflammation) is set to throw his second bullpen Wednesday. Urquidy, who hasn’t pitched since April 30, threw off the mound Sunday for the first time since his injury.
UP NEXT
Houston RHP Cristian Javier (7-1, 2.90 ERA) opposes RHP Tylor Megill (6-4, 4.83) when the three-game series wraps up Wednesday.
How can I watch New York Mets vs. Houston Astros?
- TV Channel: Mets at Astros 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on MLB.tv.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
9th Inning | Pham struck out swinging. | |
9th Inning | Alonso walked. | |
9th Inning | Lindor flied out to right. | |
9th Inning | Marte grounded out to shortstop. | |
9th Inning | Pressly relieved Valdez | |
8th Inning | Meyers grounded into fielder's choice to third, Julks out at second. |
Statistics
NYM | HOU | |
---|---|---|
1 | Games Played | 1 |
1 | Team Games Played | 1 |
0 | Hit By Pitch | 0 |
10 | Ground Balls | 13 |
10 | Strikeouts | 6 |
2 | Runs Batted In | 4 |
0 | Sacrifice Hit | 0 |
4 | Hits | 9 |
0 | Stolen Bases | 0 |
2 | Walks | 2 |
0 | Catcher Interference | 0 |
2 | Runs | 4 |
1 | Ground Into Double Play | 0 |
1 | Sacrifice Flies | 1 |
29 | At Bats | 32 |
0 | Home Runs | 1 |
0 | Grand Slam Home Runs | 0 |
6 | Runners Left On Base | 14 |
0 | Triples | 0 |
0 | Game Winning RBIs | 1 |
0 | Intentional Walks | 0 |
1 | Doubles | 1 |
10 | Fly Balls | 14 |
0 | Caught Stealing | 0 |
112 | Pitches | 117 |
0 | Games Started | 0 |
0 | Pinch At Bats | 0 |
0 | Pinch Hits | 0 |
0.0 | Player Rating | 0.0 |
1 | Is Qualified | 1 |
0 | Is Qualified In Steals | 0 |
5 | Total Bases | 13 |
32 | Plate Appearances | 35 |
0.0 | Projected Home Runs | 162.0 |
1 | Extra Base Hits | 2 |
0.1 | Runs Created | 4.3 |
.138 | Batting Average | .281 |
.000 | Pinch Hit Average | .000 |
.172 | Slugging Percentage | .406 |
.103 | Secondary Average | .188 |
.188 | On Base Percentage | .314 |
.360 | OBP Pct + SLG Pct | .721 |
1.0 | Ground To Fly Ball Ratio | 0.9 |
0.1 | Runs Created Per 27 Outs | 4.9 |
14.0 | Batter Rating | 30.0 |
0.0 | At Bats Per Home Run | 32.0 |
0.00 | Stolen Base Percentage | 0.00 |
3.50 | Pitches Per Plate Appearance | 3.34 |
.034 | Isolated Power | .125 |
0.20 | Walk To Strikeout Ratio | 0.33 |
.063 | Walks Per Plate Appearance | .057 |
-.034 | Secondary Average Minus Batting Average | -.094 |
4.0 | Runs Produced | 8.0 |
1.0 | Runs Ratio | 1.0 |
0.2 | Patience Ratio | 0.4 |
0.2 | Balls In Play Average | 0.3 |
64.0 | MLB Rating | 82.5 |
0.0 | Offensive Wins Above Replacement | 0.0 |
0.0 | Wins Above Replacement | 0.0 |
Game Information
Location: Houston, Texas
Attendance: 34,606 | Capacity:
2024 National League East Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Philadelphia | 95 | 67 | .586 | - | W1 |
Atlanta | 89 | 73 | .549 | 6 | W1 |
New York | 89 | 73 | .549 | 6 | L1 |
Washington | 71 | 91 | .438 | 24 | L1 |
Miami | 62 | 100 | .383 | 33 | W4 |
2024 American League West Standings
TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 88 | 73 | .547 | - | W2 |
Seattle | 85 | 77 | .525 | 3.5 | W4 |
Texas | 78 | 84 | .481 | 10.5 | W3 |
Oakland | 69 | 93 | .426 | 19.5 | L3 |
Los Angeles | 63 | 99 | .389 | 25.5 | L6 |