Field Level Media
Jul 25, 2018
Tony Kemp hit a tiebreaking single, and George Springer added a two-run homer as the Houston Astros rode a six-run 10th inning to an 8-2 interleague win over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday in Denver.
Pinch hitter Kyle Tucker followed Kemp's hit with his first career triple, plating Max Stassi and Kemp to extend the Houston lead to 5-2. Springer followed with his 17th home run to left-center field, concluding the scoring off Rockies closer Wade Davis (0-3), who allowed five runs.
Colorado, which had won 12 of 15 games, pulled even with a two-run seventh inning.
Astros closer Hector Rondon (2-2) earned the victory with a perfect ninth inning.
Houston right-hander Gerrit Cole was dominant early, but the Rockies finally got to him in the seventh inning.
Nolan Arenado opened the frame with a double to center field and scored when Carlos Gonzalez doubled to center. Two batters later, Cole departed, having surrendered his lead when Gerardo Parra plated Gonzalez with a run-scoring single to right field.
Cole allowed three of his five hits in the seventh inning, producing nine strikeouts against one walk while working 6 1/3 innings.
Rockies left-hander Tyler Anderson proved both elusive and opportunistic, pitching into the eighth inning despite allowing the first three batters he faced to reach base, a stretch that included a two-run homer from Astros third baseman Alex Bregman with no outs in the first.
Bregman drilled a 1-2 fastball from Anderson 414 feet into the left field seats, driving home Springer (who reached on an error) and pushing the Astros to a 2-0 lead. But Anderson began to take advantage of the Astros' wayward focus soon thereafter, picking off Jose Altuve at first base after Altuve stroked a single to right immediately after Bregman clubbed his 21st homer.
With one out in the fourth, Anderson struck again, this time picking off Josh Reddick after he worked a walk. Anderson then settled into a groove, retiring the final 11 batters he faced.
Anderson allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks over 7 1/3 innings. He recorded four strikeouts to complement those two critical pickoffs and finished with 90 pitches.
--Field Level Media