After a 2-5 start and not opening the season at home for the first time in two years, the Astros might have just needed a little home cooking to wake the bats up, as the beginning to this season has been quite unlike the start to the 2018 campaign, when the Astros routinely put up crooked numbers in the box score and won 9 of their first 11 games.
The Astros topped the A's 3-2 in their home opener, improving to 3-5 on the young season.
Dropping their first two series on the season to the Rays and Rangers, the Astros had managed to average just over 2 runs per game despite out hitting their opponents 53-41 over the first 7 games.
Carlos Correa, off to a nice start on the year, despite missing the first 3 games as he rehabbed a bothersome neck injury, gave Astro fans a taste of what they hope to see a lot more of this season, a solo home run in the 4th inning. Correa connected on a 2-2 slider from A's starter Frankie Montas that put the Astros ahead for good.
Correa says he's a lot more confident rigt now compared to struggling through the back injury last season, "Being healthy and to swing hard and be quick to the baseball gives me a lot more confidence last year when I was hurt. I had to cheat to pitches for me to get to them, then I would get fooled with the offspeed now I feel like I can let the ball travel a little bit more, so I'm quick once again."
Correa added that with him being healthy and being able to see the ball, it "feels great to back with the guys, grinding and contributing to the team. Last year I was playing good defense but I wasn't able to contribute at the plate and right now I feel dangerous."
Colin McHugh, who has pitched very well against the A’s for his career, showed how dangerous he could still be as a starter for this team as he made just his 2nd start since being moved back into the rotation from the bullpen last year.
McHugh tossed 6 innings while allowing only 3 hits and striking out 4.
The A's made it interesting in the 9th. With Astros closer Roberto Osuna on to notch his 2nd save on the season, the A's, led by former Astro Prospect Ramon Laureano, who recorded 4 hits on the night, sent a 2 out single into centerfield, scoring A's pich runner Mark Cahna to make it a 3-2 game.
Alex Bregman raised his average to .259 with a two-hit night, and Jose Altuve recorded his 2nd straight multi-hit game with 2 hits including his 2nd double on the season which drove in George Springer in the home half of the 7th innings, giving the Astros the insurance run they would desperately need to hold on and hault a two game losing streak.