Bregman, bullpen deliver win for Astros
HOUSTON -- Alex Bregman smacked an opposite-field home run in the third inning and the Houston Astros bullpen held tight to a one-run lead for a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.
Bregman belted his eighth homer of the season off Cubs right-hander John Lackey (9-8) immediately before Jose Altuve reached on a bunt single and subsequently scored on a squeeze bunt by Marwin Gonzalez. That two-run rally was all the Astros (75-67) needed to snap their three-game losing skid.
Lackey worked six solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Astros right-hander Collin McHugh (10-10) departed with a lead after five innings of one-run ball, leaving four Astros relievers to hold the line.
After rookie right-hander Chris Devenski worked a perfect sixth inning, veteran right-handers Will Harris and Luke Gregerson each worked around a walk in their respective innings of work. Gregerson managed to escape a modest jam, striking out Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant with pinch-runner Munenori Kawasaki in scoring position at second base.
Astros closer Ken Giles earned his 10th save despite issuing a leadoff walk to Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the ninth inning. Giles rallied by recording a pair of strikeouts, including one of Cubs catcher Willson Contreras with pinch-runner Matt Szcur at third base representing the tying run.
The Cubs (90-51) scratched across their lone run in the fourth inning, with Miguel Montero following a one-out walk by Jorge Soler with a double to right field. Contreras followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, with Astros right fielder George Springer delivering an errant throw up the third-base line that allowed Soler to score.
Springer and Contreras crossed paths again in the seventh inning when Springer attempted to score from first base on a Bregman single to right-center field with two outs. Contreras received the relay throw from shortstop Javier Baez and applied the tag on the foot of Springer just prior to his touching home plate. Following a replay review, the call stood after a lack of a definitive play indicating Springer was safe.
NOTES: After shining defensively at third base on Friday night, Cubs INF Javier Baez made his 17th start at shortstop on Saturday. Kris Bryant, who started in left field in the series opener, started at third base while Baez bumped Addison Russell to the bench. Russell also played exceptionally on defense on Friday night. ... The Astros will start a trio of right-handers in their final series against the American League West-leading Rangers starting on Monday: Doug Fister, Brad Peacock and rookie Joe Musgrove. Peacock will make his second start this season, essentially filling the void left by left-hander Dallas Keuchel (left shoulder inflammation). ... Astros SS Carlos Correa missed a fourth consecutive game with left shoulder inflammation. With the Astros and Cubs concluding their three-game interleague series on Sunday night, chances are decent that Correa could return to the starting lineup following the extra rest.