Jesus Sanchez turned in one of the most spectacular defensive performances you’ll see all season, robbing two home runs in Sunday’s series finale against Baltimore. Too bad it came in a 12-0 blowout loss that ended Houston’s run of three straight series wins.
The Astros right fielder, who came over from Miami at the trade deadline, leaped over the seven-foot wall in the third inning to steal a grand slam from Gunnar Henderson. Four innings later, he did it again—this time robbing Samuel Basallo of a three-run shot.
“It means a lot to be able to help my teammate and, in that case, help my pitchers,” Sanchez said, per MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart.
Sanchez has a knack for these game-changing grabs. Back in 2023 with the Marlins, he robbed Seattle’s Eugenio Suarez of a game-tying grand slam in the ninth inning at T-Mobile Park. Miami won that one.
The way Sanchez has settled into right field is encouraging for Houston. He’s made nine starts in left during his short time with the Astros, but Sunday marked his fourth start in right—a position he says he has “all the confidence” he can play.
What makes Sunday’s loss sting is how badly the Astros got outplayed by an Orioles team sitting 10 games below .500. Baltimore cashed in on every opportunity, going 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position while Houston managed just 1-for-9.
Things went sideways early when Cristian Javier left after just 50 pitches due to illness. That put the bullpen in a tough spot from the jump.
The Astros need to bounce back fast. They’re opening a three-game series tonight against the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park, and their lead in the AL West has shrunk to just 1.5 games over Seattle. Can’t afford many more games like Sunday’s debacle.
