The Houston Astros stayed within striking distance for much of the night, but three two-run home runs helped the Atlanta Braves pull away for a 6-2 victory at Daikin Park and secure their return to the postseason.
The evening began with a familiar face receiving a warm welcome. Former Astro Mauricio Dubón returned to Houston in a visiting uniform and was recognized before the game, drawing an appreciative response from fans and former teammates.
Once play began, Astros starter Peter Lambert took control early.
Lambert retired the first 11 Atlanta hitters and struck out four of the first eight he faced. An error by Jeremy Peña gave the Braves their first baserunner in the third, but Lambert worked around it to keep the game scoreless.
Atlanta finally broke through in the fourth.
Matt Olson collected the Braves' first hit with a single before Michael Harris II drove a pitch the opposite way into the Crawford Boxes for a two-run homer. Dubón followed with a double off the wall, but Lambert limited the damage to two runs.
Houston answered in the bottom half.
Yordan Alvarez doubled to open the inning, and Isaac Paredes followed with an RBI single to cut Atlanta's lead to 2-1. José Altuve then reached on an infield single, giving the Astros three consecutive hits after being held hitless through the first three innings.
Houston couldn't complete the comeback, however, as Braves starter Tyler Mahle escaped the inning with the lead intact.
Lambert remained effective into the sixth but ran into trouble when Olson and Harris opened the inning with hits. After Dubón advanced Olson to third and a walk loaded the bases, Astros manager Joe Espada turned to the bullpen.
Reliever AJ Blubaugh delivered one of Houston's biggest pitching moments of the night, striking out Mike Yastrzemski and retiring Austin Riley on a broken-bat liner to strand all three runners.
Atlanta eventually created some separation in the seventh.
After a one-out walk, Ronald Acuña Jr. launched a two-run homer into the Crawford Boxes, extending the Braves' lead to 4-1.
Houston mounted another threat in the eighth. Lamonte Wade Jr. singled, Alvarez walked and Paredes delivered his second RBI single of the game to make it 4-2. Altuve then drove a ball into right field that Acuña charged and caught, ending the inning and preventing the Astros from drawing any closer.
The Braves delivered the decisive blow in the ninth.
Drake Baldwin doubled off the wall before Olson drove a two-run homer into the Crawford Boxes. It was Olson's 40th home run of the season and stretched Atlanta's advantage to 6-2.
Raisel Iglesias handled the bottom of the ninth to finish the victory.
For Houston, the game featured a solid start from Lambert and a pair of RBI hits from Paredes, but the Astros were unable to match Atlanta's power.
For the Braves, the victory carried additional significance. Their 90th win officially secured a place in October, giving Atlanta another postseason appearance and an opportunity to pursue a deeper run.
