Tucker launches go-ahead slam in 9th off AL saves leader

The Astros’ All-Star outfielder launched a go-ahead ninth-inning grand slam off All-Star nearer Felix Bautista to ship Houston to an exciting come-from-behind 7-6 win over the Orioles on Tuesday evening at Oriole Park, and obtain a private milestone within the course of.

Tucker grew to become the fourth participant in MLB this season to attain a 20-20 season along with his twentieth residence run, a 403-foot shot off the fireballing Bautista that left the bat at 106.9 mph — solely barely tougher than the 100.4 mph it left Bautista’s hand. The American League saves chief who goes by the nickname “The Mountain,” Bautista entered play with a 0.85 ERA and solely three residence runs allowed in 52 2/3 innings this season.

He had transformed 30 of 35 save probabilities this season and 10 straight since June 24. 

Tucker modified that with one swing.

It capped a dramatic ninth-inning rally for the Astros, who entered the body down 6-3 however by no means backed down. Pinch-hitter Jon Singleton walked to leadoff the body in his first at-bat with the membership since 2015, and Jose Altuve adopted with a single.

After Alex Bregman struck out, Yordan Alvarez despatched a 101.7 mph Bautista fastball 395 toes to the center-field wall. The ball landed simply out of the attain of a sprawling Jorge Mateo, however every runner solely superior one base partially due to the wall-scraping play Mateo made earlier within the evening. 

That set the stage for Tucker, who fouled off 4 straight pitches to work his approach again from an 0-2 depend towards Bautista. On the ninth pitch, Tucker launched his fifth profession slam, additionally the ninth by the Astros this season (second most in MLB). Tucker additionally hit the final, on July 3 at Texas.