HOUSTON — On a Monday night clash between the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros, Wilmer Flores stood out by hitting his third home run of the season and driving in four runs, helping the Giants secure a 7-2 victory.
Giants starter Jordan Hicks, who hails from the suburbs of Houston, showcased an impressive performance by yielding only one hit during the six innings he pitched, a mere single in the first inning, while also striking out six Astros.
In the sixth inning, with two players on base and two outs, Flores delivered a crucial hit, launching a slider from Luis Contreras into the left-field stands, extending the Giants’ lead to 5-0. This notable home run came after Flores contributed an RBI single in the second inning to provide San Francisco an early advantage.
The Astros struggled offensively, managing just one hit until the eighth inning when Jose Altuve singled off Spencer Bivens with two outs. A subsequent double from Isaac Paredes off the left-field wall allowed the Astros to score two runs, narrowing the gap to 5-2. However, relief pitcher Erik Miller struck out Yordan Alvarez to quell the momentum and conclude the inning.
Starting pitcher Ronel Blanco, who had a notable no-hitter in his debut last year, endured some challenges. He allowed three hits, three runs, and issued three walks over more than five innings.
San Francisco’s LaMonte Wade Jr. contributed to the score with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, enhancing the lead to 2-0.
In the early innings, Hicks showcased his prowess by retiring 14 consecutive batters following a two-out single from Christian Walker in the first. Even after Altuve walked in the sixth inning, Hicks managed to dismiss the next two batters, concluding his impressive outing.
For the Giants, Matt Chapman provided additional insurance with a two-run single in the ninth inning, setting the final score at 7-2.
The pivotal moment of the night was Flores’ powerful home run in the sixth inning, which cemented the Giants’ advantage.
Reflecting on his career against the Astros, San Francisco’s manager Bob Melvin reached a milestone by overseeing his 200th game, bettering his record to 99-101 with this win.
Looking forward, the series is set to continue with RHP Hayden Wesneski making his first appearance for the Astros against RHP Logan Webb on Tuesday night. Wesneski joined the Astros after an offseason trade with the Chicago Cubs, involving outfielder Kyle Tucker.