ASTROS GET BACK TO WINNING WAYS
Bottom of order supplies bulk of offense; Peacock, flawless bullpen protect lead
For late arrivals who spent the spring fixated on thrones and dragons, the Astros provided a catch-up course Monday night at Minute Maid Park on some of the myriad ways in which they’ve built Major League Baseball’s best record as May careens toward June.
Jake Marisnick and Tyler White unloaded 400-foot-plus home runs from the bottom third of the batting order, righthander Brad Peacock struck out nine with two hits allowed through five innings, four relievers provided four scoreless innings, and the Astros beat the White Sox 3-0 to begin a 10-game homestand.
Peacock (5-2), making his third start since going to the windup after some up-and-down moments through March and April, did not issue a walk after walking four in five innings in his last start May 13 at Detroit.
“I feel pretty locked in with all my pitches right now, especially the curveball tonight,” Peacock said. “That was the plan — fastballs up, curveballs in the dirt — and it worked out.
“It’s the best (curve) I’ve had it all year. It’s coming along good, and I’ve got to keep throwing it.”
The Astros’ offense, working shorthanded without leadoff hitter George Springer, who was out with lower back stiffness, and infielder Aledmys Diaz
(strained left hamstring), still had enough power, again in large part from the bottom third of the order, to prevail on a bullpen day for the White Sox, who deployed five pitchers in the series opener.
Peacock hit two batters but otherwise was on point from the get-go, striking out seven while allowing one hit through four innings and mixing five pitches with eight swings and misses.
Jose Abreu banged a one-out double off the façade above the White Sox bullpen in left center for Chicago’s first hit in the fourth, but Peacock got Yonder Alonso on a weak liner to right and struck out James McCann to end the inning.
Only in the fifth, his final inning, was Peacock tested to any degree. Tim Anderson was hit by a pitch with one out and took second when second baseman Tony Kemp dove to flag down Charlie Tilson’s grounder but couldn’t get Tilson at first.
Faced with two baserunners for the first time, Peacock needed eight pitches to retire Yolmer Sanchez and seven to get Leury Garcia, striking out both on fastballs — Sanchez called, Garcia swinging — to end his evening.
“He threw everything where he wanted to, which is exciting for him,” said manager A.J. Hinch. “The swing and miss is what is most encouraging against the lefties. He was throwing his breaking ball where he wanted to. He had more command than his last outing. It was a very good night.”
Chris Devenski allowed one hit in a scoreless sixth before giving way to Will Harris, who allowed back-to-back base hits in the seventh to Tilson and Sanchez before striking out Garcia to end the inning.
Ryan Pressly pitched a 1-2-3 eighth for his 40th consecutive scoreless appearance, extending his major league record, and closer Roberto Osuna allowed one hit in the ninth while recording his 12th save.
After building their 10-game winning streak that ended Sunday in large part on power, the Astros’ offense employed alert baserunning by Alex Bregman to take a first-inning lead against righthanded reliever Ryan Burr (1-1), who got the start after Manny Banuelos went on the injured list last week.
Bregman drew a walk — his fourth in two days after a threewalk Sunday in Boston — and took third when right fielder Charlie Tilson bobbled Michael Brantley’s one-out base hit.
Bregman scored on a line drive to right center by Carlos Correa, but Burr got out of the inning without further damage and retired the Astros in order in the second before giving way to lefthander Jace Fry, who was greeted by Marisnick’s 422-foot, 111.6 mph blast to left.
Fry gave up two more hits before getting Brantley to ground into a 3-6-3 double play and giving way to righthander Jose Ruiz, who got out of the third but gave up White’s 418-foot, 106 mph shot in the fourth — White’s first homer of the season — for the Astros’ third run.
“I’m trying to get back to myself and being able to put at-bats together, and these swings are the ones that get you going,” White said. “I can look to it and compare it to some of the others and try to keep grinding it out and get back to where I need to be.
“Good swings get you back into the mindset where you can start putting together good weeks and good months.”