Kyle Tucker played the hero for the Houston Astros on Tuesday night, hitting a go-ahead homer in their 6-5 victory over the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park.
The Astros had been struggling in their previous two games and were looking to avoid a three-game losing streak for the first time in over two months. Manager Dusty Baker had expressed that the team was not yet “clicking on all cylinders.”
The game got off to a rocky start for Houston as they missed some early scoring opportunities. Jose Altuve, who would later exit the game with a knee contusion, singled but was then followed by a double play from Alex Bregman. Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez both reached base but were left stranded after Yainer Diaz struck out.
However, Diaz would redeem himself in the fifth inning by hitting a two-run homer, cutting into the Marlins’ 3-0 lead. Chas McCormick then homered in the sixth to tie the game at 5-5. Finally, in the seventh inning, Kyle Tucker launched his 23rd homer of the season to give the Astros their first lead of the series.
Tucker’s go-ahead homer was a highlight in his pursuit of a 30-30 season (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases). His blast sailed to the second deck in right-center field, providing the crucial run support that the Astros had been lacking in the previous game.
Pitcher Cristian Javier benefited from the offensive outburst, as he received the run support that Framber Valdez had missed out on in the previous game. The Astros and Marlins are both fighting for playoff spots, making every win vital down the stretch.
Despite not firing on all cylinders, the Astros managed to pull off the win and even the series with the Marlins. The team will look to build on this momentum and continue their push for the postseason.