Astros puts the angels in rout to open the series in Monterrey

By Chandler RomeHouston Chronicle

Update

22:56 HAC, Saturday 4 May 2019

MONTERREY, Mexico – As any patient, Yuli Gurriel grew up during the off-season, his best attackers remain ambushed. The first-base free-low player regales the first shots and fears the free passes. Each of the last two seasons has ended with Gurriel among the seven most league players in terms of rate of march. No year has seen it eclipse four percent.

Nine strolls in his first 29 games suggested a change. His teammates teased Gurriel that he could approach the 23 steps of his career record in the first month of the season.

Such selectivity betrays sometimes. A hitter can become too particular and be caught between the two. To overcorrect and restore their numbers, they begin to swing wildly. Gurriel is a victim. Pitchers pounded him inside and, while Gurriel covered that, he could not resist a host of brittle bullets.

Gurriel entered Monterrey, stuck in a miserable rut. Five hits in his last 43 goals have left the charming Cuban "more frustrated" than any of his teammates in free fall. Manager A.J. Hinch offered him a day off earlier this week in Minnesota. He offered no help. Gurriel finished the series of four games 1 to 11.

"He's far from feeling better," said Hinch on Saturday, "and he's definitely a dangerous hitter every time he goes up there."

Gurriel scored a triple and a second home homer in his first two throws in three sets that triggered an avalanche against Angels starter Trevor Cahill and an eruption south of the border.

The Astros dismantled the 14-2 Angels, which is their highest level of the season with five homers. Their 14 races set a new season record, a brutal start to an icy defeat of the series in Minnesota. In three losses, Houston scored four points.

Gurriel beat a 3 for 35 drought with a 2 for 4 night, one of four Astros to rack up several shots. Alex Bregman scored two homers, while George Springer and Michael Brantley each scored one.

Houston scored three home goals against Cahill in three and one-half innings, extending a propensity that hurt his season. Cahill gave up nine long balls in his first six starts. His seventh has seen no change. Bregman opened the scoring to a 3-1 ball on the opposite court for a first-run run, a first mark that has hardly stopped.

Gurriel's second-round hat-trick was the fourth of his four-year career in the majors. He hastily hit a fast pitching ball that split the home marble in the center's left ditch, scoring Carlos Correa's first goal while Gurriel, 34, was slender to the third .

His next move did not require such a sprint. Cahill left a fast 0-1 ball on Gurriel's belt in the fourth inning. He was down and over the left field fence – a missile that managed to find a house in the Houston paddock.

The Astros scored in each of the first six innings. Chris Stratton, eighth round of the season, was extended by an eighth inning against 18,177 fans.

Many have donned orange Astros and have sung wildly for a loaded Latin lineup. When José Altuve defeated, they chanted "José, José, José". Fireworks from a nearby football match have interrupted some situations, but have perfectly aligned with some of the many highlights for the Astros.

Endowed with an advantage before throwing his first shot, Houston starter Wade Miley managed six effortless runs of the two-run ball. The touch was sweet, save a massive house from Albert Pujols at the sixth inning. Pujols now has 59 career circuits against the Astros, more than any other team in his legendary career.

The fact that Miley was even able to play against Pujols was comforting. A round earlier, Mike Trout tattooed a line that hit Miley on the left shoulder.

The southpaw remained prostrate on the mound for a few seconds while Hinch, head coach Jeremiah Randall and pitcher Brent Strom escaped the dugout.

Miley stretched out her arm, started a few warm-ups, and chased the contingent out of the field. Two shots later, Andrelton Simmons hit a ground ball that ended the run and Miley's only stress during that pass.

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