CLEVELAND — In an intense match that extended into extra innings, Jake Meyers scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch, while Isaac Paredes bolstered the lead significantly, enabling the Houston Astros to emerge victorious over the Cleveland Guardians 5-3 in a thrilling 10-inning contest.
Yainer Diaz played a crucial role in propelling the Astros with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, marking the Astros’ fifth win in their last six outings. The Guardians, however, witnessed José Ramírez’s impressive performance even in defeat. Ramírez secured two hits, inclusive of a dynamic two-run homer in the seventh inning, which extended his on-base streak to an uninterrupted career-high of 33 games.
Though Cleveland’s Steven Kwan contributed with three hits, the team faced its third consecutive loss. During the 10th inning, Meyers, as the automatic runner, swiftly moved to third base on Jeremy Peña’s grounder. The game took a decisive turn when Meyers scored after a wild pitch by Hunter Gaddis on a challenging 0-2 count, significantly impacting the outcome.
Later, Paredes boosted Houston’s lead by driving in Jacob Melton with a solid hit to right field. Despite Cleveland’s efforts, which saw them placing runners on first and second with two outs in the 10th inning, Bennett Sousa skillfully struck out Jhonkensy Noel, concluding the game and securing his first save of the season.
The victory went to Josh Hader, who improved his season record to 2-0. Astros’ starter Hunter Brown, who aimed to be the first pitcher this season to reach nine wins, delivered a solid performance spanning 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run while amassing nine strikeouts.
A pivotal moment materialized in the seventh inning when Kwan started with a walk, just before Ramírez equalized the score at 3-3. Ramírez launched a changeup from Shawn Dubin into the stands, marking his team-leading 12th homer of the season.
Among other notable performances, Jeremy Peña extended his hitting streak to 13 games by achieving an RBI infield single during the fifth inning. His record this season stands at a career-best 14-game streak.
The series is set to continue with Cleveland’s right-hander Tanner Bibee, who boasts a 4-6 record with a 3.89 ERA and has had success during day games this season with a 2-0 record. On the other side, left-hander Brandon Walter, recently added to the Astros’ taxi squad, will be making his appearance for Houston.