Barnes Scores Go Ahead Run
(c) Associated Press
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The Astros had been struggling all season with making the key plays when the game was on the line. Wednesday afternoon, proved to be a far different story as Carlos Corporan led a Houston ninth inning rally, and Brandon Barnes leaping catch in the bottom half saved the game. Houston defeated the Detroit Tigers 7-5 to snap their six game losing streak.
Corporan recorded the first of two key hits on the night when he homered in the top half of the second to give the Astros the early 1-0 advantage. The blast was his third on the season. The Tigers wasted little time to go ahead, as they rallied for four runs in their second inning off of Dallas Keuchel to take a three run-lead.
Before the game Tuesday, Jose Altuve was placed on the bereavement list following the death of his grandmother. His replacement Jake Elmore from Triple-A led off the inning with a double. Carlos Pena singled him home, and Chris Carter walked. Next, J.D. Martinez hammered the first pitch off of Detroit starter Max Scherzer. His left-center field three-run bomb measured a whopping 464 feet. More importantly it allowed the Astros to regain the lead, 5-4.
Keuchel seemed to have found his groove against the potent Detroit offense, as he pitched effectively into the sixth inning. Unfortunately a Marwin Gonzalez error would lead to the tying run at five.
Travis Blackley, Edgar Gonzalez, Wesley Wright, and Hector Ambriz would pitch 2- 1/3 innings of shutout work in relief. Unfortunately the Astro offense was also held scoreless through the eighth inning.
In the top of the ninth, Houston made its move. Martinez walked, and was lifted for a pinch runner Brandon Barnes. Corporan’s dramatic double to left center scored Barnes to give the Astros the 6-5 lead. After Corporan was lifted for another pinch runner, Trevor Crowe, a Jimmy Paredes bunt, and a Matt Dominguez sacrifice fly increased the lead to two.
Closer, Jose Veras had a wild ninth. He walked two, hit a batter, and managed to record two outs. But that meant that the bases were loaded to the 2012 American League Triple Crown Winner and MVP Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera sent a long blast to deep left center. Barnes leapt and made the catch while crashing into the wall to save the game. Veras has now closed the door on five of eleven wins this season.
Houston has the day off on Thursday before travelling to Pittsburgh to face their old NL Central opponents. The Pirates (23-17) send Jeanmar Gomez to the mound to face Jordan Lyles. The first pitch is set for Friday at 6:05 Central.
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