PHILADELPHIA — Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez blasted three home runs, and rookie pitcher Spencer Arrighetti carried a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, but it was José Altuve’s daring steal of home plate that manager Joe Espada wanted to highlight after the game.
In a much-needed win, the Astros defeated the Phillies 10-0 on Wednesday, snapping a six-game losing streak. The game started with Altuve stealing home in the first inning during a pickoff attempt to first base, providing the spark the team needed.
“I think we needed that spark early, that energy early in the game,” Alvarez said.
The victory helped the Astros finish a challenging road trip against World Series contenders Baltimore and Philadelphia with a 3-4 record. Despite recent struggles, they remain 3 1/2 games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in the American League West with 29 games left in the season.
Alvarez powered Houston’s offense, hitting a two-run homer in the fourth inning, followed by solo shots in the seventh and eighth. This marked his third career game with three home runs and his first since September 2022. He’s been on fire since the All-Star break, with a .352 batting average, nine home runs, and 19 RBIs. Alvarez now has 28 home runs on the season.
“He’s just good,” Altuve said. “For me, he’s the best hitter in the big leagues. We have great hitters, but he’s on another level.”
Alvarez’s homers came off pitches from Taijuan Walker and Michael Mercado, traveling a combined 1,190 feet according to Statcast.
“Are you kidding me right now?” Espada exclaimed, reacting to Alvarez’s performance.
On the mound, Arrighetti was dominant, striking out 11 batters and walking four over 7 2/3 innings. He held the Phillies hitless through seven innings before Austin Hays broke up the no-hitter with an infield single to start the eighth. Arrighetti was eventually pulled after allowing a second hit to Trea Turner on his career-high 103rd pitch.
“It was tough,” said Turner, who managed one of the two hits against Arrighetti. “He had four or five pitches working, spotting up.”
Arrighetti’s impressive August performance places him alongside Kerry Wood as the only rookies in the Modern Era to record at least 47 strikeouts while allowing no more than 19 hits in a calendar month.
“Getting a guy to be early on one pitch and late on the heater is always the goal,” Arrighetti said.
Arrighetti was nearly flawless through six innings, with only two walks marring his record. He even benefitted from a standout defensive play by Mauricio Dubón, who made a crucial catch at the wall to preserve the no-hit bid in the seventh inning.
“I didn’t even realize the no-hitter was happening,” Dubón admitted.
Though Arrighetti set a career high with 7 2/3 innings, he wanted the chance to face Bryce Harper one more time. But Espada decided to pull him from the game.
“Joe, I really want Harper,” Arrighetti told his manager.
“I know you do, son,” Espada responded. “But this is the end of the day. You can get Harper some other time.”
