Astros dominate Rockies in first game of the Mexico City Series
Houston set the Fire Diamond on fire with home runs by Yordan Álvarez and Kyle Tucker to beat Colorado in game one of the Mexico Series at the Alfredo Harp.
Yordan Álvarez received a raucous applause from the Mexican fans in attendance to see the Houston Astros beat the Colorado Rockies by a score of 12-4 in the first game of the MLB Mexico City Series of the 2024 season. the Major Leagues. The Cuban power hitter blasted two home runs at the Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium driving in three runs for his team.
With this victory, the Astros ended their five-game losing streak spanning the series against the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals. Ronel Blanco got the win, his third of the season, while Cal Quantrill took the loss.
Home run and drought for the Rockies
The first two runs of the game in Mexico City could not come from any other route than the home run and Colorado took the lead from the first inning. After a single by Ezequiel Tovar, Ryan McMahon was in charge of taking the Fire Diamond ball to center field. The Rockies third baseman hit a fastball from Ronel Blanco and drove it 459 feet.
Trey Cabbage had not played a single game with the Astros in 2024, but he was responsible for producing Houston’s first run in the MLB Mexico City Series. The utility man hit a double to deep left field and sent Yainer Díaz home.
The home run Astros
The Astros turned it around in the third inning thanks to back to back home runs by Yordan Álvarez and Kyle Tucker that made the score 4-2. Álvarez hit a home run to the right side of center field, scoring Chas McCormick from first. On the next at-bat, Tucker sliced it out to left field to cap an eight-pitch at-bat.
Quantrill leaves the house full, but only receives two runs
Rockies starter Cal Quantrill’s job ended in the sixth inning after loading the bases by surrendering a single by Kyle Tucker, a walk by Jeremy Peña and a ground ball by Yainer Díaz. Reliever Jalen Beeks took over and faced Mauricio Dubón who produced a run with a grounder that Brendan Rodgers could not control.
The Astros added one more run despite a double play that took Dubón and José Abreu off the board, when Abreu hit into a 4-3 double play, scoring Peña.
Ronel Blanco’s start ended in the sixth inning after 102 pitches and eight strikeouts. The Houston starter left runners on the corners before being relieved by Seth Martínez. After walking the first batter he faced to load the bases, he was able to regain control and strike out Ezequiel Tovar to end the sixth inning.
Fire streamer
Bryan Abreu relieved Martínez in the seventh inning and the Dominican showed off with three strikeouts, retiring Brenton Doyle, Elias Díaz and Charlie Blackmon. The only blemish on his pitching work was a walk surrendered to Ryan McMahon.
Houston added two more runs in the eighth thanks to a triple by Díaz and a single by Abreu. Diaz drove a lined shot deep into the right field, scoring Peña, while Abreu split the field in two with a single that allowed his teammate to score.
Tayler Scott took the mound for the eighth inning and got out of the inning without giving up any runs. The right-hander left two men on base after striking out Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar with a mix of sinkers and sliders.
Another home run by Yordan Álvarez kicks off a hitting rally
Álvarez hit his second home run of the afternoon in the ninth. The Cuban hit a fastball from Tyler Kinley to record his seventh home run and his 17th RBI of the season. This time, the ball traveled 461 feet. Houston reached 11 runs on the night thanks to an RBI double from Dubón and one more single from Abreu. An unfortunate fielding error by Brendan Rogers allowed the Astros’ twelfth run to score.
Joe Espada, the Astros manager, chose Brandon Bielak to close the game, but the Rockies ended their drought with RBI hits from Blackmon and Elehuris Montero to make the score less embarrassing. It all ended when Nolan Jones hit a grounder toward shortstop and Jeremy Peña was in charge of putting him out 6-3.
The second game of the series between the Astros and Rockies will take place on April 28 and the first pitch is scheduled for 2:07 p.m., central Mexico time (4:07 p.m. ET, 1:07 p.m. PT ). The scheduled starters are Framber Valdez for the Astros and Austin Gomber for the Rockies.