Back on track, the Astros are chasing another win over the Red Sox

Veteran Houston catcher Martin Maldonado had no problem acknowledging that AstrosThe weekend’s game against Seattle was unacceptable and an impromptu team meeting took place after the Mariners’ three-game win.

What the Astros Against the Mariners they managed a 7:3 victory over the guests Boston Red Sox on Tuesday, a win that earned at least a split in the four-game series after a 9-4 win on Monday. The teams meet again on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Houston put on a strong pitching display from veteran right-hander Justin Verlander, power from all sides of the lineup and a relatively clean defensive display save for a sixth-inning error that didn’t prove costly.

One piece in particular summed it up Astros‘ Focus.

With Houston leading 2-0 at the end of the fourth set, Mauricio Dubon scored from second base after Maldonado’s sacrificial throw trickled through to first baseline. Dubon ran hard and with the entire game Red Sox When catcher Connor Wong ran out to get the ball and throw first, Dubon managed to get to the plate before any Boston player could.

“I can’t remember the last time I saw it” Astros Manager Dusty Baker said that from second place, Dubon scored a ball that did not leave infield. “But that was heads-up baserunning because if Dubon doesn’t run hard, (third base coach) Gary (Pettis) can’t send him.”

“That was a great run for us.”

Jose Urquidy (2-3, 5.21 ERA) has the starting task for the Astros On Wednesday.

The right-hander has made three appearances since returning from a three-month stint on the injured list caused by problems in his right shoulder. Most recently, on Friday, he ran two scoreless innings in relief and recorded three strikeouts Astros2-0 loss to the Mariners. Urquidy hit six runs in 10 1/3 innings in those three appearances (two starts).

Urquidy is 3-0 with a 2.50 ERA across three career starts against the Red Sox. In his last appearance against Boston on August 3, 2022, Urquidy allowed two hits and recorded 10 strikeouts in seven scoreless innings while earning a 6-1 home win.

Chris Sale (5-3, 4.50 ERA) will get the ball for the Red Sox On Wednesday.

The left-hander suffered a loss in his final game on Thursday against the Washington Nationals after conceding three runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings.

Sale is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in two starts since returning from a 59-game stint on the injured list caused by left shoulder inflammation. In his last six starts before landing in the IL, he was 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA.

Sale is 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA across nine career starts against Die Astros.

A night after Red Sox While coach Alex Cora lamented a sloppy defensive performance at the start of the series, Boston made three errors on Tuesday. Throwing errors by reliever Mauricio Llovera and right fielder Wilyer Abreu contributed Astros Create a seventh with four runs.

The Red Sox committed 90 errors, the highest total in the majors. What further undermines their previous performance in the series is a 4-for-28 result with runners in goal position.

“It’s hard (not to capitalize on it). We had a great weekend doing it, making good throws (combining) and grinding the shots,” Cora said of Boston’s streak win over the New York Yankees. “I think we did a good job early on with Verlander. We felt like we were putting pressure on him. We just didn’t manage to finish it.”

—Field-level media