Cam Smith tied the game with a two-out, two-strike RBI single in the ninth inning, Isaac Paredes highlighted a three-run 10th with a two-run double and the visiting Houston Astros rallied to defeat the San Francisco Giants 6-3 on Monday night in the opener of a three-game interleague series.
After Drew Gilbert had given the Giants a 3-2 lead with a leadoff homer in the seventh, the hosts were one strike away from snapping a two-game skid before Smith, who had homered earlier, grounded a game-tying single through the right side. The softly hit ball scored pinch runner Nick Allen, who had advanced into scoring position one pitch earlier on a wild pitch by Dylan Smith.
The Astros then jumped on Jason Foley (0-1) in the 10th. After a wild pitch moved automatic runner Cam Smith to third, pinch hitter LaMonte Wade Jr. walked and Jeremy Pena put Houston on top for good with a single to left-center.
Foley got Yordan Alvarez to pop up, but Paredes followed with a shot down the left field line, sending both runners home to increase the Houston lead to 6-3.
Josh Hader (4-1), who worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, sent the Giants down in order again in the 10th to pick up the win.
After Cam Smith’s 16th home run, a solo shot to left, had tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the seventh, Gilbert teed off on Astros starter Hayden Wesneski to right-center leading off the bottom of the inning. It was his fifth homer of the season and second RBI of the night, having plated San Francisco’s first run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Seeking his first win of the season, Giants starter Blade Tidwell left with a 2-1 lead, having held the Astros to four hits in 5 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six.
In his third start of the season following Tommy John surgery, Wesneski was charged with all three Giants runs on five hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out four.
The Astros gave their starter a lead before he took the mound on a first-inning sacrifice fly by Jose Altuve that scored Alvarez, who had doubled.
Jung Hoo Lee gave the Giants their first lead with a solo home run to right, his ninth, in the fifth to make it 2-1.
Cam Smith finished with three hits, two runs and two RBIs for the Astros, who began the night with a slim lead in the American League West. Paredes and Alvarez added two hits apiece.
Batting leadoff, Lee had two hits for the hosts, who have lost eight of their last 10, including two straight in extra innings.
