Altuve and Peña Power Astros to 11-5 Victory Against Struggling Diamondbacks

HOUSTON — The Arizona Diamondbacks are struggling, having lost seven of their last ten games and three in a row. On Saturday, they faced a formidable challenge against the Houston Astros, who secured an impressive 11-5 victory.

Jose Altuve and Jeremy Peña led the Astros’ charge, with Altuve contributing three hits and scoring three runs. Peña hit a pivotal three-run homer, capping a five-run sixth inning that flipped the game in Houston’s favor.

“It’s great to put runs on the board,” Peña remarked. “Whenever we take the lead, our pitching staff can close it out.”

This win further solidified Houston’s position in the AL West, increasing their lead over Seattle to 5.5 games.

Yusei Kikuchi (8-9) was on the mound for the Astros, allowing four runs and seven hits across six innings. He struck out six batters, marking a career-high total of 183 strikeouts this season.

Reflecting on his performance, Kikuchi said, “I got hit around a little bit today. But I didn’t give up a walk and kept the team in the game.” His ERA stands at 3.07 since being traded from the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Diamondbacks initially took a 3-1 lead with Kevin Newman’s fourth-inning homer off Kikuchi. However, the Astros responded emphatically, scoring four runs off Eduardo Rodriguez in the bottom half of the inning.

Rodriguez (2-2) struggled, facing 10 batters and needing 47 pitches during this tough stretch. Chas McCormick tied the game with a two-run single, while Yordan Alvarez added a go-ahead RBI single, leading to a bases-loaded walk for Alex Bregman.

“We didn’t execute in critical moments,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo noted. “We made defensive mistakes that cost us dearly.”

Alvarez continued his hot streak with three hits, boosting his batting average to .410 over the past ten games.

Arizona attempted to make a comeback in the sixth, with Eugenio Suárez hitting a 25th homer. However, Peña’s three-run shot later sealed the game for the Astros.

“That was the swing of the game,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of Peña’s hit. “Our hitters had a really good approach today.”

Dylan Floro, pitching for the Diamondbacks, allowed five runs in that decisive sixth inning, while Rodriguez concluded his outing with five earned runs over four innings.

In injury news, Diamondbacks catcher José Herrera returned to play after a minor head injury. For the Astros, Kyle Tucker made a limited return after being sidelined for 79 games due to a fractured shin. Meanwhile, Mauricio Dubón is dealing with a sore thumb.

Looking ahead, the teams will conclude their series on Sunday with Houston’s Justin Verlander (3-5, 4.52 ERA) set to face Arizona’s Ryne Nelson (10-6, 4.15 ERA).