The Astros fall to the Rockies 7-6 on July 3 despite a late rally. The loss is compounded by news that Yordan Alvarez's return is delayed until August.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a day of 'almosts' and 'what-ifs' for the Houston Astros in the thin Denver air. A ninth-inning rally fell just short in a 7-6 loss to the Rockies, but the sting of that defeat was quickly overshadowed by even tougher news: Yordan Alvarez's return from a hand injury is now likely delayed until August, a significant blow to a team desperately awaiting its offensive anchor.
While imaging shows progress and the fracture is now a 'non-factor,' the main source of his pain is inflammation... an August return is now more likely.
The hope for a swift Yordan Alvarez comeback was dashed on Thursday. After a visit with a specialist, the team announced that while the fracture in his right hand is healing well and now considered a 'non-factor,' significant inflammation remains the primary issue. Alvarez received two injections to combat the pain and has been ordered to refrain from all baseball activities for several days. The direct result of this setback was a transfer to the 60-day injured list, officially pushing his earliest possible return into August and taking a potential July reunion off the table. For a lineup that has felt his absence, this news is a gut punch, extending the challenge of generating power without their best hitter.
On the field, the Astros showed plenty of fight but couldn't overcome an early deficit. The Rockies, led by Thairo Estrada's four-RBI performance including a first-inning two-run homer, jumped ahead early against starter B. Walter, who allowed five runs (four earned) in four innings. Houston refused to go quietly. The offense scratched and clawed its way back, with C. Smith delivering a stellar 3-for-5 day capped by a game-tying triple in the seventh. Jose Altuve also did his part, going 2-for-4 and driving in a run in the ninth to pull the Astros within one. But the rally ended there, leaving the tying run stranded and sealing the 7-6 loss.
The day's injury news didn't stop with Alvarez. Infielder Luis Guillorme was also placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain after feeling tightness during pregame warmups, further thinning the team's depth. However, it wasn't all bad news. A glimmer of hope for the outfield emerged as Chas McCormick officially began his rehab assignment with the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. Sidelined since May 31 with an oblique strain, McCormick's return to the field is a crucial first step toward reinforcing a lineup that needs all the help it can get.
As the Astros look to shake off this tough loss and even tougher news, the pressure mounts on the current roster to step up. With Alvarez out for at least another month and the formidable Dodgers series looming this weekend, the team's resilience will be tested. All eyes will be on McCormick's progress in Sugar Land, as his bat and glove are needed now more than ever to help keep the Astros afloat in the long summer ahead.
