ARLINGTON -- Perhaps the two players who have been the most consistent for the Astros so far this year are slugger Yordan Alvarez, who continues to strengthen his case as the American League’s best hitter, and right-handed pitcher Peter Lambert, a lesser known name coming into the season who took over the team lead for wins on Saturday night.
With Alvarez cranking his 31st homer of the season in the first inning, Lambert throwing six innings of one run baseball and LaMonte Wade Jr. becoming the first Astros player other than Alvarez to hit a grand slam this year, Houston cruised to a 9-3 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
The Astros can clinch the Silver Boot Series over the Rangers -- and any possible tiebreakers that may come with it -- with a win in Sunday’s series finale. Here’s how the Astros got it done Saturday.
Lambert’s steady hand
In a season where the Astros have struggled to find consistent -- and healthy -- starting pitching, Lambert has been a revelation. The right-hander improved to 8-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 86 innings over 15 starts this year, allowing three runs -- one hit on a homer by Ezequiel Duran -- and one walk while striking out seven batters.
“Coming into the year on a Minor League deal and didn’t break with the team and didn’t pitch in the Major Leagues last year because I was overseas, it’s been nice,” Lambert said. “This is where I want to be and I’m happy with how it’s gone for sure.”
Lambert, signed by Houston after playing last year in Japan, threw a career-high 107 pitches -- the second-most by an Astros starter this year (Tatsuya Imai threw 110 on May 31). He threw a seven-pitch mix, relying mostly on his four-seam fastball and changeup, with the sweeper working well to right-handers.
“The one thing Peter does extremely well is he attacks,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He doesn’t run away from contact. He is confident with his stuff, he’s in the zone. He’s got that bulldog mentality, and that’s why he’s able to get through six innings and get some big outs.”
Lambert gave up a leadoff single to Wyatt Langford to start the sixth before needing 20 pitches to get three consecutive strikeouts to end his outing, getting Brandon Nimmo swinging on a changeup -- his 100th pitch -- to cap an eight-pitch battle for his second out.
“He looked in [the dugout] after two outs in that sixth inning and I said, ‘This is your out, man. You’re going to finish this inning,’” Espada said. “He was fired up. He’s been consistent. He’s been very good for us.”
Finally, a grand slam for Wade
The 57th home run of Wade’s career was his first career grand slam. He hit a Kumar Rocker slider a Statcast-projected 400 feet over the right-field wall for a 6-0 lead in the third inning. Houston’s three previous grand slams this year all came off the bat of Alvarez.
“Any time you can contribute, it feels good,” Wade said. “I was just so happy to put a good swing on it. It’s been a little rough start since I’ve been back [off the injured list July 4], but I’m starting to settle in a little bit and starting to swing at the right pitches, so it’s good.”
Signed by the Astros in early June, Wade went 4-for-12 before missing 22 games with a right hamstring strain. The grand slam is a sign that he’s close to regaining his timing, saying his strides have been too long and his head has been moving around too much.
“Since he’s gotten back from the IL, he came out and his swing wasn’t quite there yet,” Espada said. “He’s been making some adjustments the last few days and he’s starting to be shorter, more direct. He’s always made good swing decisions and the work is paying off.”
Alvarez crushes another in Arlington
Alvarez, who became the eighth-fastest player in Major League history to reach 200 homers with his 30th homer of the season Friday, continues to make Globe Life Field his personal playground. He went 2-for-3 with a homer, a double, two walks and two RBIs Saturday, giving him seven homers in six games here this year.
Alvarez, the AL’s home run leader, is slashing .328/.442/.806 with 19 homers and 40 RBIs in 36 career regular-season games at Globe Life Field, including .455/.536/1.455 this year.
“That ball hit to center, it’s a bomb,” Espada said. “The consistency of how he performs in this ballpark, he sees the ball so well. It’s a really good pitching staff over there, especially their starting rotation. He’s able to come and do it year after year and he’s put up some really good numbers in this ballpark.”