HOUSTON -- It was the kind of performance that brought back memories of Cristian Javier’s breakout 2022 season, when twice he threw the first six or more innings in a combined no-hitter, including once in the World Series against the Phillies. And if Javier has recaptured that kind of stuff and confidence, the Astros’ playoff chances are looking much better.
In his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery performed last season, Javier was dazzling in holding the Angels without a hit for six innings while combining with three relievers on a two-hit shutout in the Astros’ 2-0 win Friday night at Daikin Park.
“It’s the Javier we all know and love,” third baseman Carlos Correa said. “It’s hard, man, when you’re out for that long and coming back from injury. It’s tough, especially pitching. It’s such a lonely place right there on the mound. You could see the stuff is there. It was more of a command type of thing [that was lacking], and today he attacked the zone and he was lights out.”
The Astros (75-60), winners of three games in a row, extended their lead atop the American League West division to three games over the second-place Mariners, who blew a four-run lead and lost the Guardians, 5-4.
Javier, who lasted only two innings in his previous start Saturday in Baltimore, had his elevated fastball humming, throwing it 45 times in his 85-pitch outing and getting eight of his nine swings and misses on the pitch. He mixed a sweeper 16 times to try to set up the fastball, which averaged 93.4 mph and touched 95.1 mph.
“The ball was coming out hot,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “He attacked the zone, [threw] a ton of strikes. The breaking ball still has some work to do there, but I think the way he competed, his demeanor on the mound -- he was aggressive, he was competing from pitch No. 1. That was a great job.”
His rising fastball is dubbed the “Invisi-ball” because it’s hard for hitters to track although it only averages about 93 mph.
“I was focusing more on staying closed throughout my motion to home plate,” Javier said. “We worked a lot on my mechanics, and thank God that worked out today.”
Espada has to feel much better about his rotation than he did a week ago, considering Framber Valdez won for the first time in more than a month Wednesday by throwing seven scoreless innings against the Rockies, and Spencer Arrighetti threw 5 2/3 strong innings Sunday in Baltimore in one of his best starts since returning from a broken thumb that cost him four months.
“This is the time when we need these guys to turn the corner, and they are,” Espada said. “We’ve got to continue to help those guys, encourage them to attack the zone and have confidence in their stuff and confidence in their defense. We'll be all right.”
Javier struck out six batters and walked three and left with a no-hitter intact. Having already thrown his most innings in a game since 2024, Javier was pulled for reliever Enyel De Los Santos, who promptly gave up two hits -- a double to Yoán Moncada and a single to Jo Adell -- to put runners at first and third with no outs in a scoreless game in the seventh. He came back with three outs to keep the shutout intact.
With relievers Bryan King and Bryan Abreu down, Kaleb Ort got Adell to fly out to deep center to end the eighth after Craig Kimbrel walked the bases loaded, and Ort pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save since Sept. 29, 2022.
“Some guys are down, some guys are stepping up,” Espada said. “That was really fun to watch.”
The Astros were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position before Correa shot a single to right field in the seventh to score Yordan Alvarez, who reached base on a fielding error by second baseman Christian Moore on a ball scalded at 112.6 mph off the bat. Alvarez added a sac fly in the eighth inning.
“I always remind myself in those spots I don’t try to not do too much, don’t try to get too big,” Correa said. “Just stick to your approach; approach always wins. Just try to stay small and compete in that at-bat and I was able to come through.”