Alvarez's Late Blast Lifts Astros Over Marlins

Yordan Alvarez of the Astros celebrating a homer against the Marlins

Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images

July 22, 2026

Astros 5, Marlins 2

The Houston Astros defeated the Miami Marlins 5–2 on Wednesday night at Daikin Park behind a dominant pitching effort and three late runs that broke a tie in the eighth inning.

Yordan Alvarez delivered the decisive blow with a go-ahead two-run home run in the eighth inning before Isaac Paredes followed with a solo shot. Peter Lambert turned in another strong outing, and a trio of relievers combined to keep the Marlins scoreless over the final three innings.

Astros – Marlins Game Summary

The Astros escaped an early jam in the first inning after Lambert stranded the bases loaded. Griffin Conine flied out to end the threat. Sandy Alcantara matched Lambert early, allowing only one hit through the opening inning before the Astros struck first in the second.

Yainer Diaz opened the inning with a walk, and Christian Walker followed with a single. Lucas Spence reached on a force out to put runners on the corners. Nick Allen lined an RBI single to score Diaz for the game’s first run. The Astros looked ready to add more, but Spence was caught attempting to steal home to end the inning.

Jeremy Peña extended the lead in the third with a solo home run to left field, his ninth of the season.

The Marlins answered in the fourth. Conine drew a walk before Javier Sanoja lined an RBI double into right field. Joe Mack followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 2–2.

Alcantara kept the Astros off the scoreboard in the fourth through seventh innings. Lambert, meanwhile, stranded a runner in scoring position during the fifth en route to a strong six-inning outing.

Enyel De Los Santos took over for the Astros in the seventh. Esteury Ruiz stole both second and third to reach scoring position. De Los Santos responded by striking out Kyle Stowers and Heriberto Hernández to preserve the tie.

The Astros got Alcantara to crack in the eighth inning. Peña singled before Alvarez crushed a go-ahead two-run home run to left-center field. Paredes followed with a solo home run to chase Alcantara from the game.

Meanwhile, Steven Okert retired the Marlins in order in the eighth. Bryan Abreu followed with a perfect ninth inning to secure the Astros’ 5–2 victory.

What Went Right for the Astros

Late-Inning Power Delivered

The Astros took until the eighth inning to seize control, but they did it in dramatic fashion. Alvarez’s two-run homer broke the tie, and Paredes followed with a solo shot.

Peter Lambert

Lambert delivered another Quality Start, allowing two runs across six innings. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and consistently limited hard contact throughout the night. His outing gave the Astros a chance to win.

Relief Pitching

De Los Santos, Okert, and Abreu combined for three scoreless innings. De Los Santos stranded the potential go-ahead run at third in the seventh, Okert retired the side in order during the eighth, and Abreu finished off the victory with a perfect ninth.

What Went Wrong for the Astros

Early Chances Went Unfinished

The Astros left additional runs on the board during the second inning. After loading the bases with one out, the inning ended when Spence was caught stealing home, preventing a potential big inning.

Offense Slowed Down

After Peña’s third-inning home run, the Astros managed only two hits over the next four innings before they got to Alcantara in the eighth and chased him out of the game.

What’s Next

The Astros begin a road series against the Chicago White Sox on Friday, July 24, at Rate Field.

The Astros are expected to start Spencer Arrighetti (7-5, 4.34 ERA, 87 strikeouts). The White Sox are projected to counter with Davis Martin (9-5, 3.31 ERA, 97 strikeouts). First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Central.