HOUSTON — So what that Astros right fielder Jesús Sánchez is in an 0-for-21 slump?
Sánchez, acquired from the Marlins at the Trade Deadline, robbed Gunnar Henderson of a grand slam in the third inning when he reached high above the seven-foot wall to catch the ball. The play resulted in a sacrifice fly, saving the Astros — and starting pitcher Cristian Javier — three runs.
In the seventh, with the game a bit out of hand, Sánchez made a nearly identical catch on a ball hit by Samuel Basallo, who was making his Major League debut. The catch, which ended the inning, robbed Basallo of a three-run homer, which would have been his first Major League hit. Sánchez raised his fist in jubilation after the catch.
The six runs that Sánchez saved Sunday didn’t make the difference between a win and a loss for the Astros, but it gave the fans something to cheer about on an otherwise forgettable day at the ballpark.
