For the first time since June 3, the Astros had Kyle Tucker in their lineup. That development by itself was a massive upgrade for Houston. While Tucker only served as the designated hitter, his presence in the top half of the lineup matters, even if he needed to shake off some rust. Again, the impact of Tucker in this offense can’t be overstated.
As for the actual game, it was essentially Framber Valdez and Yordan Alvarez who led the charge. The former held one of the best lineups in baseball to two hits and three walks for his seven scoreless innings, striking out seven.