CHICAGO -- The Astros have recovered nicely since coming out of the All-Star break with a dud.
A three-game sweep at the hands of the Orioles had Houston four games out in the AL West and 4 1/2 games back in the Wild Card standings, but the Astros then won five straight, sweeping the Marlins and taking the first two against the White Sox.
Despite Sunday’s 12-3 setback in the series finale at Rate Field, the Astros have bounced back in a big way from the three losses to the Orioles at Daikin Park, going 5-1 and winning consecutive series for the first time since picking up five in a row in June.
“I think we have reacted very well,” manager Joe Espada said after the defeat. “We got some momentum. Just because we lost this game doesn’t mean that we’re going to stop.”
Despite the final score, the Astros were in a decent position to complete the sweep and run their winning streak to six.
They were tied at 3 after the top of the sixth, and Ronel Blanco -- in his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery -- had retired eight in a row. The Astros had Jeremy Peña, who had two home runs already, and the top of the order due up in the seventh, too.
“I feel good at the plate,” Peña said after his second multihomer game this season. “I feel like we’re doing a great job. The coaches having a great plan going into the game and sticking to that plan. We were doing a good job of making in-game adjustments as well.”
Two swings in the bottom of the sixth, though, put a damper on the Astros’ thoughts of a sweep.
Leadoff hitter Sam Antonacci doubled, reaching base for the third time against Blanco. Two batters later, Miguel Vargas clubbed a two-run home run on a ball well above the zone.
“That’s the pitch that does the most damage to him,” Blanco said. “Obviously, there he doesn’t reach the ball. We’re trying to get him to make weak contact or not reach the ball. He was able to make the adjustment, which was bad for me, but we’ll keep improving that.”
Blanco would exit the game after surrendering a walk and putting a sour note on the end of his day. He allowed a two-run home run to the second hitter of the game, Munetaka Murakami, then settled in to allow just one run through the fifth after that.
The right-hander was encouraged with how the ball felt coming out of his hand in this outing and his ability to pitch deeper into the game, especially given the state of the Astros’ pitching staff.
The Astros had Friday’s starter, Spencer Arrighetti, record three outs before an injury landed him on the 15-day IL. Saturday’s starter, Hunter Brown, turned in his best outing of the season, but Espada still had to use his leverage arms to preserve the 4-1 win.
On Sunday, the team optioned Kai-Wei Teng before the series finale, recalling right-hander Miguel Ullola to give them a fresh arm in their bullpen.
“The previous outing was an outing that was kind of short,” Blanco said of his 4 2/3-inning outing against the Marlins on Monday. “This one was a bit longer, and that’s what I think I improved a bit. I would say this was better. Obviously, the breaking pitches were super good, and all that’s missing is to mix them up more in the game.”
Blanco and the Astros believe one game isn’t going to spoil the momentum they’ve built this week.
“The team is trying to do their best,” Blanco said. “Every player, the front office, the staff is trying to do their best to try and go out and win games. Obviously, we’re doing that much better. I would say we have to keep preparing ourselves [like] we have been, but keep winning games.”