The Astros clinched a playoff berth for the 3rd consecutive season with Wednesday night's 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Having recorded their 58th victory at Minute Maid Park, a club record, they continued their dominace over the Rangers (74-79) as well, sweeping the short two-game series and winning all 9 ballgames between the two rivals at home this season.
The Astros (100-53) struggled to get on the board early in the ballgame, stranding 7 runners through the first 3 innings, leaving the bases loade twice (in the second and third innings).
However, what the Astros weren't getting done with the bats, they were getting done with the glove.
Kyle Tucker brought the crowd to its feet early and saved a run for the Astros in the top of the third, extending over the right-field wall to rob Rangers center-fielder Scott Heineman of a home run for the first out of the inning.
Cole, had struck out five Rangers through the first four-innings Wednesday night. He wasn't just eyeing that 300 strikeout mark for the season, he was also set to become the fastest to reach the milestone since Randy Johnson did it in 2001 in just 197.1 innings pitched.
Cole, admitted after the game that while he normally doesn't think about personal accomplishments, especially during the game, but getting his 300th strikeout on the season at home was important to him.
"I did want to try and get it done tonight in front of our fans. They've come out in large numbers all year and they're so much fun to be able to play in front of and it's just a blessing to be able to get it done tonight," Cole said after the win.
Yuli Gurriel put the Astros on the board in the bottom of the fifth-inning driving an 84-mph cutter from Allard into the left-centerfield stands (362 feet) for his 30th home run of the season.
Gurriel's blast put the Astros up 2-0 on the Rangers and energized the crowd of 38,417 at Minute Maid Park, which had been starving for runs Wednesday night after the Astros had stranded 7 runners through the first four-innings of play.
Gerrit Cole, looking as dominant as ever Wednesday against the Rangers, struck out Shin-Soo Choo to end the top of the sixth-inning, for his 8th strikeout of the game and his 300th of the season. While Cole wasn't the fastest to reach the milestone, fanning Choo did make him the the second-fastest pitcher, doing so in just 198.1 innings.
The Rangers cut into the Astros lead in the seventh-inning. Following back-to-back singles by Willie Calhoun and Danny Santana, which put runners on the corners with one-out, Santana stole second base and Calhoun scored on Martin Maldonado's throwing error, as he tried to nab Santana at second, making it a 2-1 ballgame. Cole was able to get Roughned Odor to fly out to end the frame for the Rangers, maintaining the Astros lead.
Astros second baseman, Jose Altuve quickly got the run back for the Astros in the home half of the seventh, grooving a 99-mph cutter from Rangers reliever Emmanuel Chase over the Astros bullpen in right-centerfield, for his 29th home run of the season, giving the Astros a 3-1 advantage.
Cole, stayed in the game to start the top of the eigth for the Astros but was quickly touched up by Ronald Guzman, who turned on an 89-mph slider that hung over the plate, sending it into the right field stands for his 10th home run on the season, making it a 3-2 Astros lead.
Cole had to escape a little bit of trouble following the Guzman homer as the Rangers put two more runners on base with one out in the inning, but Cole got Elvis Andrus down on strikes for his 10th punchout of the game before getting Calhoun to flyout to rightfield to end the frame for the Rangers.
On the night, Cole pitched another impressive eight solid innings, allowing just two earned runs, six hits, walking one while striking out 10 on 101 pitches.
Roberto Osuna came on to close things out for the Astros in the ninth-inning, but it wasn't without a little drama.
Osuna walked Santana to leadoff the inning, Nick Solak followed with a single to put runners on first and second with no-outs. After getting Odor down on strikes, Osuna got Guzman to ground into a 6-3 double-play on the first pitch, to end the ballgame, giving Osuna his 35th save of the season, which ranks second in the American League.
The victory Wednesday night, gave the Astros their 100th win on the season, now 100-53 on the year. It marks the third consectutive season in which the Astros have won at least 100 games.
Astros manager AJ Hinch said after the game, the wins are nice but they have their eye on the prize they won a couple seasons ago in 2017.
"We like winning a hundred. A hundred for three years in a row is a lot. I love it for this team and for this organization and it's a big accomplishment. It's a big accomplishment. It's one step along the way for us in what we're trying to accomplish this season, I don't want that to be the high note by any means," Hinch said following the game.
The Astros have an off day Thursday, before they'll wrap the home-game portion of their regular season up with three more games against the Angels. The Astros will conclude their regular season campaign with a 6 game roadtrip to the West coast, including two games against the Mariners followed by a four game series in against the Angels.
GAME NOTES:
During a pregame ceremony Wednesday, MLB recognized SS Alex Bregman as the Astros nominee for the 2019 Roberto Clemente Award.
Astros concluded their season series with the Rangers on Thursday with a 3-2 win and a two-game sweep. The Astros dominated the Rangers on the season, winning all 9 games at Minute Maid Park, going 4-6 at Globe Life Park and 13-6 overall on the season.
Yuli Gurriel hit his 30th home run of the season, becoming the 5th Cuban player ever to reach 40 doubles, 30 HR and 100 RBI in a season.
Jose Altuve has homered in 3 of his last 5 games and has 19 home runs since the All-Star break.
Sit'em down:
Gerrit Cole struck out Rangers DH Shin-Soo Choo in the 6th inning for his 300th strikeout of the season. Cole became the second fastest pitcher to reach 300 K's in a season, needing just 198.1 IP. Randy Johnson was the fastest, reaching the feat in 2001 in only 197.1 IP.
Cole, with 10 more strikeouts Wednesday night, now has 19 double-digit strikeout games this season, which leads the majors and is a club record.
Save some for later:
Roberto Osuna collected his 35th save of the season, which ranks 2nd in the AL. The save also ties him with Billy Wagner at 7th place all-time for the most in a single-season by an Astro.
Coming Up:
Astros are off Thursday - open a 3 game series with the Los Angeles Angels, Friday at Minute Maid Park. The Astros will end the regular season on the road with a two-game stint in Seattle before wrapping up the 2019 regular season in LA with a four-game set against the Angels.
Rotation for the Astros this weekend vs. the Angels: Friday (Greinke), Saturday (Miley), Sunday (Verlander).
