Houston Astros: The 10 best wins of the 2017 seasonal first half
#10 – April 5, 2017 – Astros 5, Mariners 3 (13 inn.)
Having won the first two games of their season, the Houston Astros were seeking to make it three in a row against the Seattle Mariners. For four innings, pitcher Charlie Morton held the Mariners scoreless. But in the fifth inning, Jean Segura hit a two-run homer to give Seattle the lead. The game stayed 2-0 until the bottom of the seventh when George Springer drove in two on a double to tie the game.
As the game progressed into extra innings, the Houston Astros had chances to score in the eighth, ninth, and eleventh innings only to be snuffed by the Mariners’ defense. Seattle loaded the bases in the top of the thirteenth when Brad Peacock walked Kyle Seager to give the Mariners a 3-2 lead. But in the bottom of the thirteenth, Houston had two runners on base for Springer when this happened.
Yep, good ole’ Springer walked it off with a three-run blast as the Houston Astros won 5-3. I listened to the game on the radio and I heard the first hint that this season was going to be special. Little did I know that the nine other wins would continue to add to my excitement over this team.
#9 – May 5, 2017 – Astros 7, Angels 6 (10 inn.)
So this win hasn’t been mentioned a lot of times during the season. But I feel that it’s a big important win because it gave us a moment to where the Houston Astros team is resilient and can respond to any time of pressure when the momentum is not in our favor.
One of the best starts for Dallas Keuchel this season, he held the Angels to two runs through innings despite giving up two solo shots. Down 2-1 in the seventh, the Houston Astros got a big lift from catcher Brian McCann, who smashed a three-run shot to right field to make it 4-2. Houston tacked on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth to make it 6-2.
The only thing I questioned during the game was why did Keuchel start the ninth inning. It didn’t help that he gave up three singles before turning the ball over to Ken Giles. It definitely didn’t help that Giles gave up those three runs to effect Keuchel’s ERA that game. And it certainly didn’t help that Giles gave up the tying run.
Fortunately, the Houston Astros got out of the ninth with a tie score, but one can imagine the Angels with momentum. Two outs into the tenth, Jose Altuve singled and stole second base for Carlos Correa. The count was 2-2 as Correa delivered in the clutch with a two-out single driving in Altuve. Chris Devenski came in to get the save in the tenth and Houston was awarded their 20th win of the season.