It wasn’t a great series for the Houston Astros against the Pittsburgh Pirates at home this week as they lost two out of the three in eventual blowout fashion. The gap in the American League West division race has gotten bigger even as the team has gotten healthier.
However, it wasn’t a complete waste, as the Astros ended up with their wildest win of the season in an 11-9 thriller on Wednesday night at Daikin Park. Houston seemed completely dead in the water throughout this game, having gone down 8-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Astros were 0-32 so far in the 2026 season having trailed through seven innings. That somehow changed against all odds as the Astros stormed back on offense and snatched the game right out of the Pirates’ hands. Here’s how the magical Astros comeback happened.
The Incredible Astros Comeback
This was supposed to be a special pitching duel between two of the best pitchers in baseball at the moment: Spencer Arrighetti and Paul Skenes. Most believed this would be a low-scoring game, but lo and behold, baseball strikes again. 20 total runs, 26 total hits combined between both teams. Neither starter could get to five innings and they were not even the story of the game.
It was a comeback out of nowhere for the Astros. Down 8-3 with two outs in the seventh, Isaac Paredes blasted a two-run homer to the Crawford Boxes that cut the deficit down to three. However, the Pirates added another run in the eighth.
Now trailing 9-5, the Astros quickly got down two outs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to two strikeouts. Second baseman Nick Allen steps to the plate. He isn’t known for his hitting at all, but has performed well recently. Allen got the party started with a 383-foot double. It turned into an amazing eight-inning rally, all with two outs.
The Whole Astros Offense Rallied
Christian Vázquez has played well this season, and he delivered again with an RBI double on a 2-2 count that made it 9-6. Still a long shot. It went back to the top of the order, and Jeremy Peña drew a walk. Now it got interesting. With two men on, here came the best hitter in baseball at the moment in Yordan Alvarez.
He’s known for his clutch ability, and Alvarez came through with an RBI single that scored Vázquez. It was suddenly 9-7 with Peña at third and pinch runner Zach Cole at first. Christian Walker, the team RBI leader after his hot start, stepped up and played small ball. He got on base with an infield single, and that was good enough for Peña to score. A throwing error allowed Cole to get to third.
Brick by brick. #VoteYordan⭐️x https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/FvoYYFkFzd
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 4, 2026
A little bit of luck is needed in any comeback of this magnitude. The Astros got it on Paredes’ at-bat, where a wild pitch from Gregory Soto on a 3-1 count brought Cole home, and the game was suddenly tied. The big blow came from young second-year outfielder Cam Smith. It’s been a rough year for him, and Smith drove in the go-ahead runs on a clutch two-run triple down the right field line on a 1-2 count.
CAMERON VAUGHN SMITH!!!!!#VoteCam ⭐️ https://t.co/W06pfHQMR1 pic.twitter.com/VFj2aaT5LB
— Houston Astros (@astros) June 4, 2026
The Debut of Josh Hader
The Astros went up 11-9 at the end of eight innings in an improbable six-run inning, all with two outs. The team batted around, and the stage was all set for the top of the ninth. The ballpark lights dimmed, and whatever fans were left got to witness the fireman returning.
That is the season debut of Josh Hader. It seemed impossible just 30 minutes ago that Hader would come on for the save in this game. He successfully got his first save of the season with a groundout, strikeout, and another groundout. This was a special ending to the most shocking win of the Astros’ season.
Josh Hader completes his first save since July 29th of last season https://t.co/7SU00372y3 pic.twitter.com/1s5y0quPrA
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 4, 2026
Reflection and Look Ahead
The Astros have surprisingly been a sort of comeback kings this season. Their first win of 2026 also came in epic comeback fashion against the Los Angeles Angels. They were staring down a 0-3 start after trailing 6-0 halfway through the game. Houston scored three runs in the fifth and eight runs in the sixth to come back and win. That final score was also 11-9.
It was a magical win worth remembering, but Houston wasn’t able to build off the momentum as it lost the Pirates series the next day. However, it shows the potential of the offense and how they were able to string great at-bats together. There’s no doubt the team can score. The Astros just need more consistency.
Alvarez went 4-for-5 in the Astros comeback and added onto his MLB-leading numbers. Smith has shown improvement. This is the time for the Astros to string together more series wins coming off their highlight-filled May as they continue to get even more healthy.
Main Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
