Mexico City. Houston, we have a problem. A phrase that is attributed to the Apollo 13 space odyssey in 1970 and that became commonplace to express moments of chaos. An expression that was subverted yesterday by the Astros – the emblematic team of that city that is the protagonist of the space race – who came to Mexico City to shamelessly beat the Colorado Rockies with a score of 12-4, in the first game of the two-game regular season series.
Once again the Alfredo Harp Helú stadium received the Major Leagues and was the scene for those from Space City to interrupt a streak of five consecutive losses. Not bad for a team that arrived as a visitor but seems local. Houston – they can communicate with their base – in Mexico City the Astros have no problem.
The stands at the home of the Red Devils are very lively, because you can sense that energy of a Major League crowd. The teams on the field are not left to their own devices. The Rockies should be more familiar with the height of Mexico City as their stadium is the highest above sea level in the entire league. His house in Denver, Colorado, is 1,609 meters high, yes, but well below the 2,240 meters in the Mexican capital that make the ball rise as if it wanted to rebel against the force of gravity.
Photo María Luisa Severiano
The Astros looked comfortable, they seemed in tune with the majority of the public on their side. Even with the ease to provide a dose of suspense, since they started down on the scoreboard. Rockies scored first with a two-run homer hit by Ryan McMahon.
Nothing touches the sensitivity of fans more deeply than seeing their team overcome adversity. The epic of rising from the mud to exalt the spirit that does not let itself be defeated. A timid run in the second inning thanks to an error by the center fielder got them into the fight. Trey Cabbage hit a double but the mistake opened the door for him to venture to third and from there to home plate, like a heroic Ulysses returning to his people, unrecognizable.
But the true epic was written by Yordan Álvarez’s consecutive two-run home runs and another solo by Kyle Tucker. Fortune, as we know, is a game that amuses some and tortures others.
Photo María Luisa Severiano
Those from Space City hurt the Rockies again in the sixth inning. Colorado starter Cal Quantrill showed off that wounded-bird vulnerability that pitchers express when they’re in trouble. He loaded the bases and that forced an emergency meeting on the mound. Those words were said that no one knows what they mean, except those summoned, and Jalen Beeks went up to try to put out the fire. What he received instead were two more races that put them at the deepest point of the wheel of fortune.
As if floating in space, the Astros orbited above the diamond. Everything was going well for them against a Rockies team that bordered on the melancholy of early defeat. In the eighth inning, Yainer Díaz hit a hit that became a triple due to the error of the right fielder who did not know how to field a routine ball. Jeremy Peña took advantage of that clumsiness to score and later Díaz had his reward when he was driven by Abreu.
The climax came in the ninth, with Yordan Álvarez hitting his second home run of the afternoon to contribute a solo run. Everything flows as if they were at home, they have the public on their side, they have hit three home runs so far and the lead already looks irrecoverable. What does it matter if the proper premises are those in Colorado, if this looks like the Astros branch in Magdalena Mixiuhca. And to confirm it, Mauricio Dubón hits a double that hits one more in the shoes of Kyle Tucker who walked the paths from a walk. And defensive errors allowed the rally to continue and they hit two more buzzers to leave the score at 12-2.
Photo María Luisa Severiano
As an act of reparation, the Rockies said goodbye to this terrible night with a couple of scores, but they did nothing to wash away the battered honor. Tonight the sky looks like in an epic space story. The Houston astronauts had no problems there.
#modesty #Astros #beat #Rockies #Harp #Helú #Stadium
– 2024-05-01 21:31:58
