2021 MLB News: Houston Astros Love The Boos

2021 MLB News: Boos Lead To Runs

The Astros came into Opening Day riding an eight-game Opening Day win streak dating back to 2013 when the Astros moved to the American League. Coming into Oakland, the Astros knew that there would be some heckling from the Oakland fan base but knew they had to figure out a way to ignore the negativity, and boy, did they ever find a way.

Zack Greinke was on the mound for the Astros and pitched a gem of a game. The veteran pitcher went six strong innings, giving up only three hits and striking out four to get his first win of the season. Greinke"s gem of a game was only a portion of what was to become when the bats started to get going.

The Astros started the scoring spree in the fourth inning of game one and have not looked back since. Astros were able to score eight runs on Opening Day in route to an 8-1 victory over the Athletics. Astros third baseman Alex Bregman has historically been slow to get going once the season starts but has not shown any signs of coming into the first couple of games in 2021, hitting home runs in the first two season games.

Veteran left fielder Michael Brantley homered in his third consecutive Opening Day since he became an Astro back in 2019. Having Brantley in the lineup is always exciting to watch because of the approach Brantley has every time he steps into the batter"s box.

There was much anticipation as to who would lead off the Astros this season, and Jose Altuve is the guy the Astros have chosen to fill that role and has been impressive so far. Altuve has scored seven runs so far in three games and has been scoring runs in the flashiest of ways. In game two, Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker hit a pop to the Athletics shortstop Elvis Andrus, who was playing the shift in shallow right field, with Altuve on third, tags up and makes a break for home and scores a run as Andrus was caught sleeping. The Astros managed to score nine runs in the second game of the series, with a final score of 9-5.

The scoring opportunity did not slow down in game three of the series, as the Astros managed to pour it on again with another route with a final score of 9-1. This time, it was the former 2019 Rookie of the Year, Yordan Alvarez getting into the slugfest after belting a three-run, 404" shot to centerfield. Getting into the scoring opportunities as well as utility infielder Aledmys Diaz and rookie Chaz McCormick.

In this first series of the season, the Astros have outscored the Athletics 26-7, which leads all Major League Baseball through three games this season.

2021 MLB News: Injury Report

In the third game of the series, left fielder Michael Brantley was taken out of the game after getting hit on the wrist during his first at-bat. Brantley went and had x-rays on the wrist, which came back negative. Brantley will be day-to-day per manager Dusty Baker.

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