Houston, down to last out, pounces
The world champs came to town, though they weren’t quite as recognizable as they were in October because of injuries to several front-line players.
In the end, it didn’t matter. The Astros were still the Astros.
The Giants were one out from beating shorthanded Houston 1-0 in Monday night’s opener of a quick two-game series, but closer Will Smith yielded a three-run homer to Marwin Gonzalez, permitting the Astros to celebrate a 3-1 victory.
For much of the evening, the story line for the Giants was Brandon Crawford’s sixthinning home run and seven spectacular innings by Rookie of the Year candidate Dereck Rodriguez, who has been a savior in a year the rotation has been undermined by injuries.
Smith walked Alex Bregman with one out and Yuli Gurriel with two away. Gonzalez crushed a 1-0, down-the-middle fastball, and the Giants were denied their sixth win in eight games.
“That’s baseball,” Rodriguez said. “Sometimes you’re domi-
nant, and sometimes it’s just one bad pitch. Everybody’s trying. The great thing about this sport is, tomorrow (Smith) is going to get the ball again when we have the lead in the ninth inning. That’s part of the game, and that’s why we play.”
Afterward, in the quiet of the clubhouse, Smith and Rodriguez crossed paths. Smith told the rookie he pitched beautifully, and the rookie wanted it known he had Smith’s back. They fist-bumped.
“He pitched his ass off,” Smith said. “We’re at that point of the season where we need to win games. When a starter goes that deep in a game like that and gives you a chance to win, it hurts giving it up.”
Rodriguez gave up three hits, struck out seven and walked nobody while lowering his ERA to 2.34 and WHIP to 1.05. After 94 pitches, he yielded to Reyes Moronta, who pitched the eighth.
Then came Smith, a big asset since taking over the closer’s role, having converted his previous seven save opportunities. He hadn’t given up a home run since 2016. But on this night, his command was missing with his fastball and breaking pitches.
“Just off a touch, he just made a mistake there,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s been so good, so solid. You’re going to have an off night occasionally. It was a tough night to have it.”
The Giants faced the team that took the Dodgers to seven games before winning the World Series. Monday’s starting pitcher, Charlie Morton, threw four scoreless innings to close out Game 7, one inning short of Madison Bumgarner’s performance in Game 7 in 2014.
Like Rodriguez, Morton lasted seven innings and gave up three hits, including the one smoked by Crawford over the right-field wall, the shortstop turning on an inside breaking pitch for his 11th home run.
Crawford also made a dazzling defensive play in the fifth inning, short-hopping Martin Maldonado’s sizzler and easily throwing out the catcher. Also in the inning, center fielder Steven Duggar ranged well into right-center to rob Jake Marisnick.
“He was awesome,” Crawford said of Rodriguez. “He’s
“When a starter goes that deep ... and gives you a chance to win, it hurts giving it up.” Will Smith, Giants reliever, speaking of Dereck Rodriguez
been such a big piece for us, coming out of nowhere, it seems like, and putting up good game after good game for us. He doesn’t back down or care who’s at the plate. He goes after guys. It’s fun to watch.”
On Smith, Crawford said, “Will’s been huge for us all year. Tonight, that was the first time I’ve seen him missing with his off-speed (pitches). Will’s been huge for us. That’s going to happen every once in a while.”
Gone from the Astros’ lineup were four significant up-themiddle players, all injured: second baseman Jose Altuve (knee), shortstop Carlos Correa (back), center fielder George Springer (thumb) and catcher Brian McCann (knee).
Plus, Evan Gattis was out of the lineup because the Astros can’t use a designated hitter in interleague play.
New Houston reliever Roberto Osuna, who served a 75-game domestic-violence suspension this season, pitched the eighth and received some boos as he took the mound. He needed five pitches to retire the side in his Astros debut.
Thanks to the three-run ninth, Osuna got the win.