Houston Astros Lucas Spence celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Lucas Spence celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu (52) reacts after getting Athletics designated hitter Shea Langeliers to hit into a double play for the final out of the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros pitcher Bryan Abreu (52) reacts after getting Athletics designated hitter Shea Langeliers to hit into a double play for the final out of the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) turns a double play on Athletics designated hitter Shea Langeliers ground ball for the final out of the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Lucas Spence celebrates after hitting his third home run of the game during the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Lucas Spence, right, celebrates with Christian Vázquez after hitting his third home run of the game during the ninth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros relied pitcher Bennett Sousa (62) delivers during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Lucas Spence, center, celebrates with Brice Matthews after hitting a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros relied pitcher Bennett Sousa (62) delivers during the eighth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) reacts after getting Athletics designated hitter Shea Langeliers to pop out and end the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) reacts after getting Athletics designated hitter Shea Langeliers to pop out and end the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros catcher Christian Vázquez, left, talks with relief pitcher Miguel Ullola during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Lucas Spence, right, celebrates with Christian Vázquez hitting a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Lucas Spence watches the ball after hitting a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Lucas Spence watches the ball after hitting a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Lucas Spence hits a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) reacts after striking out Athletics Joshua Kuroda-Grauer to end the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) reacts after striking out Athletics Joshua Kuroda-Grauer to end the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Christian Walker reacts after popping up to end the top of the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yainer Diaz (21) fouls off a pitch during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) is seen in the dugout during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Isaac Paredes, right, celebrates with Yainer Diaz after hitting a solo home run to tie the game 4-4 during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) hits a solo home run to tie the game 4-4 during the sixth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) fields a ground ball by Athletics Jeff McNeil during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) delivers during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) delivers during the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Bryan King (74) points back to shortstop Jeremy Peña after he threw out Athletics Joshua Kuroda-Grauer during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) throws to first base to get out Athletics Joshua Kuroda-Grauer during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Bryan King (74) delivers during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert (38) reacts after giving up a game-tying, 3-run home run to Athletics Jeff McNeil during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert (38) reacts after a 2-3 count to Athletics Shea Langeliers is overturned during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) draws a walk during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez (44) reacts after striking out during the third inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Lucas Spence (28) celebrates with Christian Walker, Christian Vázquez and Cam Smith after hitting a 3-run home run during the second inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros Lucas Spence (28) celebrates with Christian Walker, Christian Vázquez and Cam Smith after hitting a 3-run home run during the second inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Lucas Spence (28) reacts after hitting a 3-run home run off Athletics starting pitcher Mason Barnett during the second inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Lucas Spence (28) hits 3-run home run off Athletics starting pitcher Mason Barnett during the second inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) watches the ball as he turns a double play as Athletics Lawrence Butler (4) slides in to second during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) turns a double play as Athletics Lawrence Butler (4) slides in to second during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert (38) delivers during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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The scoreboard at Sutter Health Park shows Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez in the MLB lead in walks before an MLB baseball game in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Isaac Paredes (15) warms up before an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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The scoreboard at Sutter Health Park shows Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez in the MLB lead in slugging percentage before an MLB baseball game in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, right, signs a jersey for Barbara Moon, center, with the help of Donna Hopkins, left, before an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros pitcher Mike Burrows throws before an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, right, and Christian Vázquez watch teammates warm up before an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez, right, and Christian Vázquez watch teammates warm up before an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) warms up before an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A platitude often floated in the early days of spring training is everyone in a team’s camp might see a chance to contribute at some point during a long season. It is a calming notion when rosters are still forming and hopes are nascent and October feels far away.
Thursday night, with their season and playoff hopes perhaps on the line, the Houston Astros witnessed it manifest.
Houston Astros Lucas Spence, center, celebrates with Brice Matthews after hitting a solo home run, his second of the game, to take a 5-4 lead during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Houston Astros relief pitcher Miguel Ullola (66) reacts after getting Athletics designated hitter Shea Langeliers to pop out and end the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
Two rookies who were not on their opening day roster, who did not debut until midseason, who were at Triple-A earlier this month, propelled the Astros to a 7-5 win over the A’s at Sutter Health Park that held their position in the American League West race with three days remaining.
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With the Rangers winning earlier in the day, the Astros needed to win to stay tied atop the division with Texas, against whom they own the tiebreaker. No two players proved more important to the effort than center fielder Lucas Spence and reliever Miguel Ullola. Spence, playing in his 16th major-league game, hit three home runs. Ullola, pitching in his 10th, threw three scoreless relief innings.
“From my experience in watching teams go deep into the postseason, it comes down to some younger guys, some newer guys, somebody filling in and going off and picking up slack,” first baseman Christian Walker said. “To have those guys executing at a high level, it can change the outcome of some games.”
Houston
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
Avg.
Totals
37
7
10
7
2
10
Peña ss
5
0
1
0
0
1
.274
Alvarez lf
4
0
1
0
1
1
.315
Barrosa lf
0
0
0
0
0
0
.199
Paredes 3b
4
1
1
1
1
0
.261
Altuve 2b
4
0
0
0
0
2
.250
Diaz dh
4
0
0
0
0
2
.279
Walker 1b
4
2
2
1
0
1
.223
Smith rf
4
1
1
0
0
2
.208
Spence cf
4
3
3
5
0
0
.205
Vázquez c
4
0
1
0
0
1
.207
Athletics
AB
R
H
BI
BB
SO
Avg.
Totals
36
5
11
5
3
14
Bolte cf-lf
5
0
0
0
0
4
.275
Butler rf
5
0
3
0
0
2
.239
Langeliers dh
5
1
1
0
0
1
.265
McNeil 1b-2b
4
1
2
3
0
1
.267
Gelof 3b
3
2
2
2
1
0
.259
Walton 2b
3
0
1
0
0
1
.270
a-White ph-1b
1
0
0
0
0
1
.250
Cortes lf
3
0
0
0
0
2
.253
b-Stefanic ph
1
0
1
0
0
0
.320
1-Clarke pr-cf
0
0
0
0
0
0
.153
Kuroda-Grauer ss
3
0
0
0
1
2
.379
Heim c
3
1
1
0
1
0
.202
Houston
030
001
111_7
10
0
Athletics
004
000
010_5
11
0
a-struck out for Walton in the 8th. b-singled for Cortes in the 8th.
1-ran for Stefanic in the 8th.
LOB_Houston 5, Athletics 7. 2B_McNeil (23), Heim (19), Butler (19). HR_Spence (1), off Barnett; Paredes (24), off Barnett; Spence (2), off Blewett; Walker (27), off Roycroft; Spence (3), off Alvarado; McNeil (9), off Lambert; Gelof (21), off Lambert; Gelof (22), off Sousa. RBIs_Spence 5 (8), Paredes (93), Walker (84), McNeil 3 (59), Gelof 2 (54). SB_Peña (12).
Runners left in scoring position_Houston 2 (Paredes 2); Athletics 4 (Butler, Langeliers, Kuroda-Grauer, Heim). RISP_Houston 1 for 4; Athletics 1 for 8.
GIDP_Langeliers.
DP_Houston 2 (Paredes, Altuve, Walker; Peña, Altuve, Walker).
Houston
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
NP
ERA
Lambert
2
2-3
6
4
4
2
6
62
3.87
King
1
1-3
1
0
0
0
3
23
5.28
Ullola, W, 2-0
3
1
0
0
0
3
35
2.30
Sousa, H, 12
2-3
2
1
1
0
2
13
5.10
Abreu, S, 9-11
1
1-3
1
0
0
1
0
14
3.73
Athletics
IP
H
R
ER
BB
SO
NP
ERA
Barnett
6
4
4
4
2
8
87
7.02
Blewett, L, 2-2
1
3
1
1
0
0
18
2.80
Roycroft
1
1
1
1
0
2
14
6.27
Alvarado
1
2
1
1
0
0
20
4.00
Inherited runners-scored_King 1-0, Abreu 1-0.
ABS Challenge_Lambert (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Lambert (Ball-Overturned to Strike); Langeliers (Strike-Overturned to Ball).
Pitch timer violations_Diaz (batter).
Umpires_Home, John Tumpane; First, Brennan Miller; Second, Ben May; Third, Gabe Morales.
T_2:42. A_9,367 (14,014).
Spence, recalled from Triple-A a day earlier amid Houston’s center-field injuries, hit his first three home runs in the majors. He is the third player in MLB history to hit each of his first three homers in the same game, per MLB statistician Sarah Langs.
“It’s super enjoyable, looking back at it,” Spence said. “But just taking it one at bat at a time. Really just trying to hit base hits, but sometimes you run into a couple homers, so that’s always good.”
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Spence’s first, a three-run home run off Mason Barnett in the second inning, gave Houston an early lead. A solo homer in the sixth wrested the lead back after the A’s had erased it. Another in the ninth padded a one-run lead after the A’s threatened again.
Spence became the 14th player in Astros history to record a three-homer game, per Baseball Reference. At 23 years and 240 days, he is the second-youngest of those players to achieve the feat. Yordan Alvarez, who did it at 22 years and 44 days old in 2019, was the youngest.
Ullola, making his 10th major-league outing, two days after he threw a career-high 33 pitches in Seattle, threw three scoreless relief innings on 35 pitches, creating stability in the middle of a pitching carousel.
“These kids, they’re coming up here and they want to be part of this,” manager Joe Espada said. “And we need them to step up.”
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Starter Peter Lambert did not escape the third inning. The Astros trailed 4-3 when Ullola entered for the fifth. They led 5-4 when Ullola ended the seventh by inducing a fly out by Shea Langeliers, unleashing a burst of emotion on the mound.
“It was just like an instant reaction,” Ullola said, through an interpreter. “Just because we’re right in the middle of the hunt and we want to make the playoffs.”
Ullola retired nine of 10 batters faced. Lawrence Butler laced a two-out double off the right-field wall in the seventh inning, missing a game-tying home run by inches. Ullola stranded him. He was awarded the win, two days after recording his first career victory with a two-inning appearance against the Mariners. Ullola, developed as a starter, only converted to a relief role in May, making the usage relatively new.
“I feel like everything is mental,” Ullola said. “Feel like if I prepare well, I can do it.”
While he worked, solo home runs by Isaac Paredes and Spence put the Astros back ahead, 5-4. Walker made it 6-4 with a home run in the eighth. Zack Gelof, the A’s third baseman, trimmed the lead back to one with his second home run of the night in the bottom of the eighth.
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Bryan Abreu, called on for a four-out save after Josh Hader threw 44 pitches a night earlier, retired Jonah Heim to end that inning with two runners on base. Spence provided an insurance run in the ninth. Abreu returned to the mound and finished a win that felt mandatory.
“It’s amazing seeing young guys doing that, that kind of work out there helping the team,” Abreu said. “Because of that big performance, we have a chance to get the ‘W.’”
Quick hook for Peter Lambert
Lambert worked his first two innings scoreless. He struck out six of his first 11 batters faced. His outing stalled quickly in the third inning.
After a leadoff walk, Lambert struck out his next two batters. Langeliers singled on a full-count pitch after overturning a called third strike with an ABS challenge. Jeff McNeil then hit a 2-2 fastball into the visitors’ bullpen. Lambert spun around and put his hands on his head in apparent disbelief.
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McNeil’s swing tied the game. Two pitches later, Gelof hit a changeup 413 feet to center to put the A’s ahead. A single by Donovan Walton marked the fourth straight hit against Lambert and ended his night. He recorded eight outs on 62 pitches.
“The pitch count got up, and I felt like it’s time to put an end to the threat,” Espada said. “This ballpark, you never know, you’re never out of a game here. So anytime you could shut a door and bring your offense back in the dugout and try to get more runs and try to max out our relievers the best we can.
“It’s been a tough couple of games, but our guys continue to be resilient and get big wins.”
It marked the third straight game the Astros’ starter did not complete the third. Cristian Javier threw two innings Tuesday before exiting with a groin injury. Ethan Pecko was chased in the third inning Wednesday in Seattle.
The outing was Lambert’s shortest this season. He had completed at least five innings in all but four of his previous 27 starts. His quick hook reflected the game’s magnitude, but it may also keep Lambert in play for an appearance later in the season.
“Yeah, I’m sure,” Lambert said of whether he could be available this weekend.
Mason Barnett goes six for A’s
Barnett, a 25-year-old right-hander, entered with a 7.16 ERA in 44 major-league innings this year. None of his previous 10 major-league starts had lasted six innings. This one did.
The Astros mustered four hits against Barnett, who walked two batters and struck out six. Two of those hits cleared the fence: Spence’s three-run home run in the second inning and Paredes’ solo home run in the sixth. The latter tied the game after Barnett had retired 11 of his last 12 hitters.
Barnett led with a four-seam fastball that averaged 93.7 mph, throwing it 51% of the time. Astros hitters whiffed on six of 20 swings against it and averaged an 88.1 mph exit velocity on six put into play. Paredes did drive a 3-1 four-seamer onto the roof of the clubhouse beyond left field to forge a 4-4 tie.
Big swings from Lucas Spence
Houston’s embattled outfield is limping to the finish line. Astros outfielders entered Thursday with a .651 OPS this season, the majors’ lowest mark. Center fielder Daulton Varsho, the Astros’ lone trade deadline addition, landed on the injured list Thursday with a wrist ailment. Outfielder Brice Matthews returned to the injured list on Wednesday after aggravating the left knee that sidelined him for two months.
Matthews’ injury ushered Spence back to the majors. Spence had played in 15 games for Houston prior to Thursday, going 6-for-40 with one extra-base hit.
After one-out singles by Walker and Cam Smith in the second, Spence drove a changeup from Barnett an estimated 429 feet to right field at 105.8 mph off the bat for his first major-league home run. Spence has 24 home runs in 859 career minor-league at-bats, so power is not his forte. His first with the Astros lent production from a depleted position group that has sorely lacked it.
His next two created a historic night and kept the Astros on pace in a division race.
“That was awesome,” Espada said. “I enjoy watching young players come up here on the biggest stage there is. We need some of these kids to step up and do big things. And he just delivered.”