Correa’s two-run homer in ninth lifts Astros.
Greinke provides 7 strong innings for 2nd straight lengthy outing
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Carlos Correa makes clutch moments his own, the hallmark of a Houston career that could be nearing its end. Talks of a contract extension engulfed much of Correa’s first two months back with the team. Nothing materialized and Correa is betting on himself — that he’ll stay healthy for the long haul and perform with the pedigree so many know he has but can never consistently harness.
Yet, in a lineup littered with players off to prodigious starts, Correa felt like an outlier. He arrived in the ninth inning of a tie game Tuesday against the Angels with six hits in his first 24 at-bats. He’d coaxed one walk and struck out six times. Teammates around him helped buoy Houston’s lineup, but it’s only best when Correa can be a force. Yordan Alvarez is reaching base regularly above him. Correa must chase the cleanup man in.
Alvarez sawed his bat at the head. Angels closer Raisel Iglesias pumped a 96 mph fastball on the inner half. Alvarez insideouted the pitch the other way. The barrel of the bat splintered and flew into the stands while he scurried to first base as the goahead run. Correa came up to change his early-season narrative.
Correa crushed a goahead, two-run home run off a mislocated Iglesias fastball, lifting the Astros to a 4-2 win against the Angels. Houston finished their season-opening road trip 5-1, taking two series from American League West foes.
Starter Zack Greinke gave the Astros everything they’ve missed from starters since opening day. He spun seven spectacular innings, affording desperately needed length in a rotation with none of it. Greinke is the only Houston starter who pitched into the sixth inning during this six-game road trip.
Tuesday offered a glimpse at vintage Greinke. His changeup and command ruled the day. Sixtytwo of his 96 pitches were strikes. After Mike Trout destroyed a two-run home run against him in the first, just one Angel passed first base while he worked. Closer Ryan Pressly secured the six-out save.
Greinke engaged in an excellent duel with Dylan Bundy, the Angels ace making an unscheduled start. Anaheim needed starter Griffin Canning to warm up in relief during Sunday night’s marathon game against the Chicago White Sox, rendering him unavailable to make Tuesday’s scheduled start. Bundy, on regular rest, subbed in.
Bundy bombarded the Astros with four-seam fastballs. Rarely could they catch up. Seven of Houston’s 10 strikeouts against him ended on the fastball. Bundy averaged 92.9 mph and touched 95, an increase of almost two miles per hour from his careerlong numbers. The Astros appeared hapless while he worked, by far their most listless showing of the young season.
Any action the Astros generated came against Bundy’s secondary pitches. Kyle Tucker and Aledmys Diaz delivered backto-back home runs off Bundy’s slider during the second. Tucker took the team lead with three home runs. He has five total hits all season.
After the ambush, the Astros managed just two hits against Bundy. Alex Bregman struck a sixth-inning single before Alvarez rolled an excuse-me swing double against the shift. Bregman bounded into third base. Correa and Tucker loomed with one out. Bundy bore down.
Correa lifted a lazy pop fly that barely reached the outfield grass. Tucker watched an 0-2 fastball dot the top of umpire Angel Hernandez’s strike zone. Bundy threw it at 95.1 mph, his hardest offering all afternoon.