The Houston Astros' early-season struggles may finally be turning a corner, thanks to a powerful bat and a dominant arm. On Wednesday night, Yordan Alvarez launched his seventh home run of the season—tying him for second in the majors—while rookie Spencer Arrighetti delivered a masterful performance, striking out 10 over six strong innings to propel the Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Arrighetti, making his first big-league start of the year after a call-up from Triple-A, was electric. He surrendered just two hits and one run, showcasing the kind of poise that can stabilize a rotation. His effort helped Houston secure its second consecutive win, snapping a painful eight-game losing streak.
The Astros provided just enough offense early. Christian Walker and Cam Smith each drove in a run with sacrifice flies in the first inning, giving Arrighetti an immediate cushion. Alvarez then provided the exclamation point in the third, crushing a solo shot off Rockies starter Jose Quintana to extend the lead.
Colorado, now mired in a six-game slide, threatened in the seventh, putting runners on the corners with two outs. However, Astros reliever Bryan Abreu shut the door, inducing a crucial groundout. Closer Enyel De Los Santos then sealed the deal with a scoreless ninth, earning his second save in as many nights.
The win didn't come without a cost, as the Rockies saw two key players exit after being hit by Arrighetti pitches. Willi Castro was struck on the hand, while Troy Johnston sustained a quadriceps bruise, putting their immediate availability in question.
With the series finale set for Thursday, the Astros will look to build on this momentum and secure a series sweep, hoping this marks a true turning point in their season.
