Alvarez's RBI double in 9th lifts Astros to 2-1 win over Sox
HOUSTON (AP) ā After slugging their way to their last four wins, the Houston Astros found a different way to extend their winning streak Friday night.
Yordan AĢlvarez had a game-ending double in the ninth inning for his third hit and Houston's only extra-base hit, lifting the Astros to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
āThereās going to be nights when everyone isnāt going to hit,ā Alvarez said in Spanish through a translator. āSo to have somebody to come through and get a big hit for us is what itās about and itās what winning teams do.ā
It was tied at 1-all when Yuli Gurriel singled off Garrett Crochet (2-3) with one out in the ninth. AĢlvarez smacked a ball down the right-field line that rolled into the corner, allowing Gurriel to slide home just before the throw to give Houston the victory.
āThe plan was just to not get too desperate at the plate," Alvarez said. āWasnāt trying to hit a home run. I just wanted to make good, solid contact with the ball and thatās what happened."
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Luis GarciĢa allowed one run and seven hits in seven innings, and Ryan Pressly (4-1) struck out the side in the ninth for the win.
āYou canāt win the same way every day," manager Dusty Baker said. āA winning streak is usually about that. You find ways to win. Weāve been getting good pitching. Weāve been getting pitching deep into the game. So hopefully we just keep on rolling."
JoseĢ Altuve cooled off after hitting three homers in four games, going 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. The Astros didnāt homer on Friday night after entering with at least two homers in their previous 10 games to tie a major league record.
GarciĢa tied a career-high with eight strikeouts. He settled down after the first couple of innings, retiring 13 of his last 14 batters.
Brian Goodwin got things going for the White Sox with a double down the right-field line with one out in the first and he advanced to third on a single by YoaĢn Moncada. JoseĢ Abreu followed with a single that scored Goodwin.
āWe had some opportunities to add runs the first inning," manager Tony La Russa said. āThey just made good pitches and got the outs."
Chicago starter Carlos RodoĢn yielded one run and three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in seven innings.
āThatās an impressive offense," he said. āThey swing the bat. They take pitches and made me work all night."
RodoĢn retired his first 13 batters before Alvarez singled with one out in the fifth. RodoĢn walked Carlos Correa before Abraham Toro singled to load the bases.
There were two outs in the inning when MartiĢn Maldonado walked to score a run and tie it at 1-1. RodoĢn was able to limit the damage by striking out Altuve to end the inning.
TRAINERāS ROOM
White Sox: INF/OF Leury GarciĢa was out on Friday because of a sore knee. Manager Tony La Russa said he bruised it sliding recently and theyāre trying to be careful with him. ... LF Andrew Vaughn sustained a bruise to his face when a ball bounced and hit him as he slid into second on a double in the sixth inning. He remained in the game before being replaced by Adam Engel for the bottom of the eighth. La Russa said Vaughn was having trouble seeing clearly and was icing his face after the game.
HOME SWEET HOME
Garcia has been great at home this season, posting a 2.05 ERA with 39 strikeouts in six starts. He leads American League rookies with a 2.82 ERA overall this season.
UP NEXT
Houstonās Framber Valdez (3-0, 1.42 ERA) opposes Lance Lynn (7-2, 1.51) when the series continues Saturday night.
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