Astros starter Jason Alexander was the standout performer, tossing six scoreless innings and allowing just three hits. He struck out six and walked one, earning his second win of the season and lowering his season ERA. The Astros took full advantage of a rough fourth inning from Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, who was perfect through three innings but surrendered six hits and five runs in the fourth. Key contributions came from Jeremy Peña, who doubled twice and drove in two runs, and Jesús Sánchez, who made an immediate impact in his first game against his former team by driving in a run with a double.
The pivotal fourth inning saw the Astros rack up five runs, including a two-run double by Yainer Diaz and RBI hits from Carlos Correa and Christian Walker. Peña added another RBI double in the seventh, extending Houston’s lead to 6-0. The Marlins showed signs of life in the seventh, when pinch-hitters Javier Sanoja and Derek Hill hit back-to-back home runs off reliever Bryan King—the first time Miami has achieved this feat with pinch-hitters since June 22, 2006 (Joe Borchard & Wes Helms), according to MLB.com.
Houston responded quickly, with Mauricio Dubón and Cam Smith adding insurance runs in the late innings. Alcantara finished with six runs allowed on nine hits over seven innings, despite throwing 100 pitches and striking out five. The Marlins’ defeat ended their longest winning streak of the season, while the Astros capitalized on their offensive depth and strong bullpen management.
Looking ahead, Miami will send Cal Quantrill (4-8, 4.79 ERA) to the mound for the next game, while Houston’s starter remains undecided. According to ESPN Analytics, the Astros are slight favorites to continue their momentum, with a 57.5% chance of winning the next matchup.
For full highlights and play-by-play breakdowns, visit the official Houston Astros site or follow the latest updates on @astros and @marlins.