Astros Stat of the Day: July 2021

MLB.com is keeping track of a Stat of the Day for the Astros this season, highlighting a unique, interesting or fun nugget from each game.

• Astros Stat of the Day, June 2021

July 31: Giants 8, Astros 6 -- Trouble with the long ball
Zack Greinke allowed four home runs at the historically pitcher-friendly Oracle Park on Saturday afternoon, the first time he's allowed four in a single game since Opening Day 2019.

July 30: Astros 9, Giants 6 -- Five-spot for Altuve
With two home runs, including a grand slam, Jose Altuve drove in a season-high five runs, the first time he’s done so since Aug. 19, 2016.

July 28: Astros 11, Mariners 4 -- Houston has no problem vs. M's
The Astros are 101-61 all-time in 162 games against the Mariners, which is the best record by any team against any single opponent (minimum 150 games).

July 27: Astros 8, Mariners 6 -- Baker's record through 162
This was Dusty Baker's 162nd regular-season game as manager of the Astros. He's 91-71 since taking over prior to the 2020 season.

July 26: Mariners 11, Astros 8 -- Brantley gets hits in bunches
Astros outfielder Michael Brantley went 3-for-4 on Monday for his 13th three-hit game of the season, which is the most in the American League. He surpassed Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Blue Jays and teammate Yuli Gurriel, both of whom have 12.

July 25: Astros 3, Rangers 1 -- Greinke keeps making history
Astros starter Zack Greinke picked up his 218th career win Sunday, moving him up to a tie with Earl Whitehill for 79th on the all-time list.

July 24: Astros 4, Rangers 1 -- Houston on a roll
The Astros collected their 60th win of the season Saturday, giving them 60 wins in their first 100 games for the fourth consecutive full season. Prior to this span, the Astros achieved the feat only once in franchise history (1999).

July 23: Astros 7, Rangers 3 -- Tides turning in Texas
After going 23-53 against the Rangers in their first four years in the American League (2013-16), the Astros have turned the tables and are 49-28 against their Lone Star State rivals from 2017-21. Houston is 72-81 against Texas as a member of the AL.

July 21: Indians 5, Astros 4 -- Altuve on torrid homer pace
Second baseman Jose Altuve slugged his third homer in two games, giving him 23 homers for the season. That’s the most he’s recorded in the Astros’ first 97 games of a season. His previous high was 15 in 2016, when he finished with 24.

July 20: Astros 9, Indians 3 -- Gurriel stays hot at the plate
Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel went 3-for-5 in the win over the Indians for his 12th three-hit game of the season. That’s tied for first in the American League with Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Astros teammate Michael Brantley.

July 19: Astros 4, Indians 3 -- Greinke climbs record books
Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke recorded his 217th career win Monday night against the Indians, tying him for 80th all time with Bob Caruthers, Freddie Fitzsimmons and Mickey Lolich. It was also his 20th career win with the Astros in 42 career starts.

July 18: White Sox 4, Astros 0 -- Rare shutout for the Astros
A single in the top of the third inning by Abraham Toro was the only time the Astros put a runner on base against the White Sox. By the end of the game, Toro's single represented the lone base hit as the club didn't draw a single walk. That's only the seventh time in franchise history -- and the second time since Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game in 1998 -- the Astros have been shut out on no walks and one or fewer hits.

July 17: White Sox 10, Astros 1 -- Astros can't avoid the long ball
Jake Odorizzi couldn't keep the White Sox in the park for long, giving up back-to-back solo home runs to Zack Collins and Tim Anderson in the third inning. Houston's bullpen didn't fare any better, as Brandon Bielak, Joe Smith and Austin Pruitt each gave up long balls to Chicago. That's the first time this season that four or more Astros pitchers all gave up home runs in a game. The last time that happened came in a 14-7 loss to Arizona on Aug. 5, 2020.

July 16: Astros 7, White Sox 1 -- McCullers enjoying top-tier run
Outside of allowing two hits and one run on his first two pitches, Lance McCullers Jr. shut the White Sox's lineup down for the entirety of his seven innings of work. His one run allowed on the night extended his streak of starts with two or fewer runs allowed to a career-high six games.

July 11: Astros 8, Yankees 7 -- Walk-off magic
By scoring six runs in the ninth inning, the Astros posted their first win when trailing by five runs on more in the ninth inning since rallying to score seven runs to win, 9-8, at Montreal on July 25, 1980. It was their first walk-off win when trailing by at least five runs heading into the ninth since coming from 5-0 down to beat Montreal, 6-5, on July 24, 1978.

July 10: Yankees 1, Astros 0 -- Pressly's impressive streak
Astros closer Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless ninth inning, allowing one hit with one strikeout, to extend his streak to 15 consecutive appearances (15 innings) without allowing an earned run, with 24 strikeouts in that span. The All-Star reliever's last earned runs allowed came on a three-run homer to Fernando Tatis Jr. on May 29.

July 9: Yankees 4, Astros 0 -- Alvarez's record start at 162 games
Yordan Alvarez played in his 162nd career game Friday, and the Astros DH/LF has club records with 44 homers and 138 RBIs in his first 162 games with the team. He’s slashing .308/.393/.603 in that span.

July 8: A's 2, Astros 1 -- Bullpen rights the ship
Since giving up 11 earned runs and 15 hits in 7 2/3 innings on June 29 against the Orioles, the Astros’ bullpen has posted a 1.38 ERA with four earned runs allowed (three homers) and 31 strikeouts in 26 innings.

July 7: Astros 4, A's 3 -- Altuve, A's nemesis
Second baseman Jose Altuve went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer, extending his hitting streak against the A’s to 13 games (dating back to Aug. 29, 2020). He’s batting. 393 (22-for-56) with four doubles, three homers and 10 RBIs during that span.

July 6: Astros 9, A's 6 -- Yordan keeps mashing
Yordan Alvarez’s seven career multi-homer games are now tied for the most in Major League Baseball history in a player’s first 159 career games, and he is the first to reach that mark since Mark McGwire.

July 4: Astros 4, Indians 3 (10) -- Greinke keeps cruising
Zack Greinke cruised through 7 2/3 innings against the Indians with eight strikeouts, tying a season-high record. Greinke issued only one walk over the seven-plus innings for his 11th quality start of the year. The right-hander has recorded 82 strikeouts through 18 starts in the first-half of the season.

July 3: Astros 3, Indians 2 -- Odorizzi's scoreless streak snapped
Recording a quality start to notch his third win since coming off the injured list, Jake Odorizzi tossed three scoreless innings before allowing a run in the fourth to cap off his scoreless-inning streak at 18. Between one relief outing and three starts (and his final inning in a June 9 start), the right-hander owned the longest active streak among MLB starters.

July 2: Astros 6, Indians 3 -- McCormick stays productive
Chas McCormick has made the most of his limited playing time and of his production this year. He had two hits on Friday, including an RBI double in the second inning, giving him 29 RBIs this year with 30 hits in only 126 at-bats.

July 1: Astros 7, Indians 2 -- Alvarez sets club exit velocity mark
Yordan Alvarez’s home run in the fourth inning went a projected 446 feet and had an exit velocity of 116.4 mph, which is the hardest-hit homer by an Astros player since Statcast tracking began in 2016. The previous record was 115.9 mph by George Springer on April 16, 2016. It was only Alvarez's third-longest homer of the season, behind a 448-foot and a 451-foot shot.