Post a Free Blog

Submit A Press Release

At CWEB, we are always looking to expand our network of strategic investors and partners. If you're interested in exploring investment opportunities or discussing potential partnerships and serious inquiries. Contact: jacque@cweb.com

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Filter by Categories
Action
Animation
Anime
ATP Tour (ATP)
Auto Racing
Baseball
Basketball
Boxing
Breaking News
Business
Business
Business Newsletter
Call of Duty (CALLOFDUTY)
Canadian Football League (CFL)
Car
Celebrity
Champions Tour (CHAMP)
Comedy
CONCACAF
Counter Strike Global Offensive (CSGO)
Crime
Dark Comedy
Defense of the Ancients (DOTA)
Documentary and Foreign
Drama
eSports
European Tour (EPGA)
Fashion
FIFA
FIFA Women’s World Cup (WWC)
FIFA World Cup (FIFA)
Fighting
Football
Formula 1 (F1)
Fortnite
Golf
Health
Hockey
Horror
IndyCar Series (INDY)
International Friendly (FRIENDLY)
Kids & Family
League of Legends (LOL)
LPGA
Madden
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
MLS
Movie and Music
Movie Trailers
Music
Mystery
NASCAR Cup Series (NAS)
National Basketball Association (NBA)
National Football League (NFL)
National Hockey League (NHL)
National Women's Soccer (NWSL)
NBA Development League (NBAGL)
NBA2K
NCAA Baseball (NCAABBL)
NCAA Basketball (NCAAB)
NCAA Football (NCAAF)
NCAA Hockey (NCAAH)
Olympic Mens (OLYHKYM)
Other
Other Sports
Overwatch
PGA
Politics
Premier League (PREM)
Romance
Sci-Fi
Science
Soccer
Sports
Sports
Technology
Tennis
Thriller
Truck Series (TRUCK)
True Crime
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
US
Valorant
Western
Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Women’s NCAA Basketball (WNCAAB)
World
World Cup Qualifier (WORLDCUP)
WTA Tour (WTA)
Xfinity (XFT)
XFL
0
-- Advertisement --spot_img
HomeSportsBaseballMLB News: Astros aim for elusive first win in series opener vs....

MLB News: Astros aim for elusive first win in series opener vs. Blue Jays

Add to Favorite
Added to Favorite


Houston Astros manager Joe Espada had no intention of completing the first series of this season with any fresh players, not after the New York Yankees took the first three games of the weekend set.

Espada used two of his high-leverage relievers — right-hander Bryan Abreu and closer Josh Hader — for the second time in as many games on Sunday, with the latter pitching for the third time in the four-game series. Espada used three of the four players he had available off his bench, including Victor Caratini and Mauricio Dubon in the ninth inning facing a one-run deficit.

“Trying to win a game,” Espada said. “Trying to put the guys in the best position to succeed.

“I like the fight, I like the grind. That’s what it’s all about.”

The result wasn’t favorable, with the Astros falling 4-3 to the Yankees for their second one-run loss of the series. All four defeats were absorbed by the bullpen, with Hader saddled with the decision in the series finale after the Yankees fashioned a two-out rally in the top of the ninth inning.

Houston, which will host the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set starting Monday night, came up woefully short in clutch situations. The Astros stranded 34 baserunners and finished 8-for-41 with runners in scoring position. The bullpen struggles stood out, but the Astros failed to capitalize on multiple opportunities to build a cushion to withstand the hard-charging Yankees.

“We played hard,” Espada said. “It felt like playoff baseball. If something could have gone our way we could have won two (or) three of those games. But it’s baseball.

“I thought that we played hard. We’ve got a new series starting (Monday) and we’ll be ready to go.”

Right-hander Ronel Blanco (2-1, 4.50 ERA in 2023) is scheduled to start for the Astros on Monday.

He had five separate stints with Houston last season and made his first career start June 1 against the Los Angeles Angels. Blanco had seven starts in 2023, including one in Toronto on June 7 when he allowed two runs on three hits and four walks with five strikeouts over six innings. He did not factor into the decision of a 3-2 loss.

Right-hander Bowden Francis (1-0, 1.73 ERA in 2023) has the starting assignment for the Blue Jays.

It will mark the first career start for Francis, who made 20 relief appearances last season and posted 35 strikeouts and eight walks in 36 1/3 innings. Francis recorded a 0.83 WHIP and a .175 opponent batting average. He has yet to face the Astros in his career.

The Blue Jays earned a split of their four-game road series with the Tampa Bay Rays with a 9-2 victory on Sunday. Toronto thrived despite the late scratch of shortstop Bo Bichette (neck spasms) by following the lead of third baseman Justin Turner, who finished 3-for-4 with a double, home run and four RBIs.

Seven different Blue Jays recorded hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 0-for-2 but drew three walks.

“It was quality at-bats up and down the lineup,” Turner said. “Guys staying in the zone, taking walks, getting a lot of traffic out there and then cashing in when we got the opportunity.

“If we get a lot of traffic on the bases, it’s going to be a fun year, and this offense is going to do some exciting things.”

–Field Level Media

Subscribe to get Latest News Updates

Latest News

You may like more
more

MLB News: Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen meets Giants, looks to avoid double-digit losses

Former All-Star and National League Cy Young Award candidate...

MLB News: Jacob deGrom aims to continue dominance of Orioles

The Texas Rangers will look to ace right-hander Jacob...