Astros 0, Rangers 1
L: Oberholtzer (0-3)
W: Perez (2-0)
Submitted by Reuben
Brett Oberholtzer became the third Astros starter in three games to throw a fantastic 7 innings but have no W to show for it. Following the offense’s Friday flake-out on Feldman and Chapman’s vulture-job on Cosart Saturday, it was the offense’s turn again Sunday afternoon, as Astro hitters botched the few minor scoring opportunities they had, grounding into 4 double plays and having 2 additional runners get caught stealing. Despite 5 hits and 3 walks, they did not have a baserunner even reach 2nd base against the Rangers.
Credit to Arlington hurler Martin Perez (not to be confused with centerfielder Leonys Martin) for a well-pitched game. He gave the Astros very little to hit, and seemed able to get ground balls at will. But these Houston hitters are in a team-wide slump, make no mistake. If hitting is contagious, not-hitting is fuckin’ viral these days in the Astros’ clubhouse. Perhaps they should be collectively referred to as The Traffic Jam, because they all seem to be stuck on the Interstate – from Dominguez and Carter on down to Grossman and Krauss, 9 of the 13 position players are batting between .120 and .190. Even the once-red-hot Dexter Fowler is 0-for his last 15, dropping his average to .235.
You know what though? I’d rather see the Astros lose 1-0 than 8-5, or 12-5, or 12-0 for that matter. Those kinds of scores were all too common last year. The pitching, outside of Harrell and 2 or 3 relievers, has looked much better in the early going than it did last season, and Oberholtzer held up his end of the deal and then some in this game. Obie tossed 7 innings and struck out 7, allowing 4 singles, a double, and no walks. The only run of the game, in the 6th, was hard to fault him for: consecutive seeing-eye groundball singles followed by a sac fly. He was outstanding, and efficient, only needing 89 pitches to get through 7. So why didn’t Porter send him back out for the 8th? Perhaps someone needs to remind Bo that baseball rules DO allow starting pitchers to pitch more than 7. This isn’t Little League, or the World Baseball Classic. Bringing in Jerome Williams to pitch the 8th of a 1-0 game was almost as much of a head-scratcher as foregoing Fields and Qualls in favor of Chapman for the 9th on Saturday. I’m sure there must be good reasons for these moves. Must be…
The offense will get better. Even Chris Carter probably won’t hit .150 for the entire year. Altuve is doing fine; Fowler, Jason Castro, I have faith in those guys. Hell, the odds are overwhelming that 2 or 3 of the other guys will wind up hitting .250-.280… just hard to say which ones at present. Or when their next hit with runners in scoring position and two outs in a tight game will happen. In the meantime, I will continue to find 1-0 baseball games entertaining if they continue to provide them.