Jose Urquidy Dominant in Spot Start, Astros' 2-1 Win Over Diamondbacks
Jose Urquidy had not made a start in over a month, but his number was called upon Friday night. With his team's playoff hopes on the line, Urquidy led the Houston Astros to a critical 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Hours before the start of Friday's game, rookie JP France was scratched from his start, due to a family emergency. Urquidy made a spot start, and the Astros veteran did not disappoint, pitching what may have been his finest game of the season.
In a critical series opener at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, Urquidy mowed through the Diamondbacks' lineup with ease, allowing just two hits, three walks, and no runs over six innings, setting the tone for a 2-1 Astros victory.
Urquidy last started a game for the Astros on August 23, when he allowed four runs to the Boston Red Sox off eight hits and four runs. Urquidy had pitched out of the Astros' bullpen in the time since.
Arizona's offense went quiet until the ninth inning, when the Diamondbacks started a late rally that plated a run and put the game's tying run on second base with two outs. With closer Ryan Pressly on the mound for the Astros, Alek Thomas reached on a fielding error before Gabriel Moreno smacked an RBI double to bring the Diamondbacks to within a run. Pressly was able to get Jace Peterson to ground out to end the game, securing a key Astros' victory.
Friday's win moves the Astros to 88-72 on the season, with two games remaining. Houston had lost ten of its last 15 games, entering Friday. The Astros' victory keeps them one game in front of the Seattle Mariners for the third and final American League Wild Card spot. They are now only one game back of the Texas Rangers for the AL West division lead.
