Astros dig hole, rally to defeat Mets
Jun 29, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) hits a two RBI single against the New York Mets during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Bregman's two-out, two-run single in the eighth inning Saturday put the visiting Houston Astros ahead for good as they rallied from a 6-1 deficit to cool off the red-hot New York Mets 9-6.
Bregman's hit scored Jeremy Pena and Trey Cabbage, who each drew walks from the wild New York bullpen. Houston worked four walks in the inning from Jake Diekman and Reed Garrett (7-3), who also tossed a wild pitch that scored the first of the Astros' three runs.
Mauricio Dubon added insurance in the ninth with a two-out, two-run double down the left-field line. Seth Martinez (3-2) worked a clean seventh for the win and Josh Hader got his 12th save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Neither starter was involved in the decision. Houston's Framber Valdez permitted six runs on 10 hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings, fanning five. Mets right-hander Trevor Megill lasted 5 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and four runs with three walks and six strikeouts.
Jun 29, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Houston Astros outfielder Mauricio Dubón (14) hits a two RBI double against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
The result snapped a four-game winning streak for New York.
Houston initiated scoring in the top of the second when Jake Meyers prevailed in a 10-pitch duel with Megill, lacing an outside fastball over the right-field wall for his eighth homer of the year. But that lead didn't last long.
New York tallied five in its half of the inning with help from some shaky defense. Jose Iglesias legged out an infield single and Valdez threw wide of home plate to move Mark Vientos to third. Harrison Bader cashed Vientos in with an opposite-field single to right.
Jun 29, 2024; New York City, New York, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Josh Hader (71) pitches against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Nimmo plopped an RBI double off the tip of Yordan Alvarez's glove down the left-field line and Pete Alonso laced a two-run single to make it 5-1. An inning later, Vientos drilled a solo homer to center, his 10th of the year.
The Astros shaved the deficit to 6-4 in the fourth. Pena drilled a two-run double into the left-field corner that scored Alvarez and Meyers, then came home on Jon Singleton's RBI single to left.
--Field Level Media