Houston Astros starter Luis Garcia exits here after suffering from an elbow injury after throwing eight pitches against the San Francisco Giants at Minute Maid Field in Houston on Mon May 1, 2023. Garcia is the second Astro pitcher to have a arm or elbow issue, pitcher Jose Urquidy was placed on the 15 day IL after suffering a shoulder injury on Sat Apr 29, 2023. (AP News photo)

Giants Drop First Game In Astro Series 7-3

By Barbara Mason

After a quick two game series against the San Diego Padres over the weekend in Mexico City, the San Francisco Giants (11-17) traveled to Houston to take on the Astros (16-13) in a Monday night game. The Giants didn’t fare no better in Houston dropping the first game of the series 7-3 at Minute Maid Field to open the series.

The game got a bit of a late start when Astro pitcher Luis Garcia left the game and Brandon Bielak took the mound in his place. Something was not right with Garcia and so Bielak took over.

Houston took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. A Jose Abreu single drove Mauricio Dubon home for the early lead.

San Francisco would take the lead when Joc Pederson hit a two-run home run for a 2-1 score. After a rough two game series in Mexico there was no apparent fatigue that may have followed them to Houston.

The Astros tied up the game 2-2 when Mauricio Dubon singled and Jake Meyers scored. The Astros would have a huge seventh inning scoring five runs. There would be a flurry of hits from Houston. Dubon had another hit, this one a double driving in Jake Meyers.

Alex Bregman singled Dubon home and Jose Abreu grounded out and Bregman scored. The Giants were sitting on two outs but just could not get that third out to end the inning. Jeremy Pena and Corey Julks both singled driving two runners home now leading 7-2.

Going into the eighth inning, the Giants had a big hole to dig out of. San Francisco got to work as their first at bat in the eighth LaMonte Wade Jr. knocked one out of the park, a solo home run. That would be all there was in the inning for San Francisco but they did get one back now trailing 7-3.

The Giants had one last chance as they went into the ninth. They would have to do it against one of the best closers in the game Ryan Pressly. The five run inning was the difference in this game for San Francisco. This was Giants fourth loss in a row.

Starting pitcher for the Giants, Ross Stripling went five innings. He allowed two runs and had five strikeouts. Relief pitcher Sean Hjelle was pulled after one inning. He allowed the five runs in the seventh inning and Tristin Beck would close out the game giving up one hit, no runs and two strikeouts.

The Giants will continue this three game series tomorrow sending Anthony Desclefani (2-1 ERA 2.70) to the mound. Hunter Brown (3-0 ERA 2.37) will start for Houston. First pitch is scheduled for 5:10 PM.