The Houston Astros recorded a decisive 18-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Dodger Stadium, led by Jose Altuve’s two home runs and five RBIs. The loss marked the most lopsided defeat in the ballpark’s history for the Dodgers.
Altuve, who finished with three hits and reached base five times, headlined a relentless offensive performance by the Astros, who scored 10 runs in the sixth inning alone. The second baseman received repeated boos from the crowd, a lingering reaction from his involvement with the Astros’ 2017 sign-stealing scandal, which implicated members of the World Series-winning team. Altuve and Lance McCullers Jr. are the only two active Astros remaining from that roster.
The betting line favored Los Angeles at -135 entering the game, with Houston listed as a slight underdog at +115. Total runs over/under was set at 8.5, which the Astros cleared single-handedly by the sixth inning.
Houston opened the scoring quickly, as Isaac Paredes hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch from Dodgers rookie Ben Casparius. Altuve followed with a double and later scored on Christian Walker’s RBI single, setting the tone for a long night for the Los Angeles pitching staff.
Jake Meyers added to the offensive output with a double in the third inning and scored on Altuve’s first homer of the game. Cam Smith and Walker then recorded consecutive extra-base hits to increase the lead to 6-1 by the end of the third.
Casparius, in his second major league start, allowed six runs on nine hits over three innings. He struck out three but struggled to locate his pitches throughout his outing. McCullers Jr., making his second start since returning from injury, limited the Dodgers to four hits and one run across six innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The pivotal sixth inning included a bases-loaded RBI single by Smith, a hit-by-pitch forced in a run, and Victor Caratini’s grand slam off reliever Noah Davis. Altuve followed with his second home run of the game, a three-run shot to extend Houston’s lead to 18-1. The 10-run frame was the most allowed in a single inning by the Dodgers since 1999.
The Dodgers’ only offense came from Will Smith’s solo home run in the second inning. Los Angeles managed just five hits overall and could not capitalize on limited scoring opportunities.
Shohei Ohtani was involved in an unusual play when he lined a ball off McCullers’ left heel. The ball deflected to shortstop Mauricio Dubón, who caught it for an out. Ohtani will pitch two innings as an opener on Saturday, his 31st birthday.
The Astros improved to 23-8 since the start of June and will send Framber Valdez (9-4, 2.72 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. The Dodgers counter with Ohtani (0-0, 2.25 ERA), continuing his return from elbow surgery.
