Alvarez, Paredes Power Astros Past Marlins With Back-to-Back Homers

Key Moment Defines Outcome

The game’s decisive shift occurred in the eighth inning when Alex Alvarez and Joey Paredes delivered back-to-back home runs to left-center field. Alvarez’s blast, measuring 394 feet, scored two runs and broke a 2-2 tie. Paredes followed immediately with a 398-foot shot to extend the lead, effectively sealing the contest for Houston.

These two long balls accounted for three of the five runs the Astros would score, providing the necessary margin against a Miami Marlins team that had held the lead for much of the early going.

Marlins Take Early Lead

Miami jumped out to an early advantage in the second inning. Allen singled to right field, driving in Diaz to make it 1-0. The Marlins added to their lead in the third inning when Peña homered to left field, a 383-foot shot that pushed the score to 2-0.

The Astros responded in the fourth inning. Sanoja doubled to right, allowing Conine to score and cut the deficit to 2-1. Mack then singled to left, scoring Sanoja and tying the game at 2-2. Despite the rally, Miami’s pitching staff managed to keep the score level through the middle innings.

Pitching Performances

Miami’s Sandy Alcantara started for the Marlins, pitching seven innings. He allowed nine hits and five earned runs, taking the loss and falling to 10-6 on the season. Calvin Faucher pitched the eighth inning for Miami, retiring the side with two strikeouts.

For Houston, Peter Lambert worked six innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out three. He was supported by Enyel De Los Santos, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning with two strikeouts. Steven Okert earned the win, pitching the ninth inning with no hits or walks allowed.

Bryan Abreu closed out the game in the tenth, securing the save with one strikeout.

Final Score and Records

The Houston Astros defeated the Miami Marlins 5-2 on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas, before a crowd of 26,099. The win improved Houston’s record to 50-54, while Miami’s record dropped to 52-51.

Sources

ESPN