Astros 5, Orioles 2
W: Cosart (2-3)
L: Tilman (3-2)
Submitted by Reuben
That’s more like it, now. The Astros took a 3-0 lead 3 batters into the game Sunday afternoon, as walks to Altuve and Fowler were followed by a first-pitch homer off the bat of Jason Castro. While it didn’t initially appear that he had gotten enough to get it all the way out – especially as Oriole CF Adam Jones casually cruised back after it – Castro’s shot just kept carrying to straightaway CF. An impressive clout for a guy who hasn’t looked like himself lately.
Technically those 3 runs were enough, but let’s be honest here, who really thinks the Astros could have protected a mere 3-2 lead those last few innings? Marc Krauss, who presumably has an inkling that his MLB job is on life support, provided 2 very valuable insurance runs when he homered off O’s lefty McFarland with Matt Dominguez on base. Krauss finished 2-for-4 with a walk, raising his average to a less-pathetic .187.
Meanwhile, Jarred Cosart pitched another fine game, despite not really having his great curve working. Baltimore hitters bunched together 4 singles in a row to plate 2 runs in the 3rd inning, but otherwise Cosart did a great job of pitching out of trouble, as he had baserunners in all but one of his 6 innings. The key moment came in the bottom of the 5th, when a walk and double gave the O’s two men in scoring position with 1 out and a 3-2 score. Cosart struck out cleanup hitter Jones on 3 pitches – leading to a hilarious bat-slamming display by Jones – and then coaxed a fly ball from Nelson Cruz to get out of the inning unscathed.
Coming on in relief of JC was Tony Sipp, who is bidding for McHugh-esque legendary status with his early Astro career numbers – he’s now thrown 4 perfect innings, spanning 3 games, with 7 K’s. Sipp’s excellent extended outing allowed for a smooth transition to Chad Qualls, who presumably won a pre-game rock/paper/scissors tournament and thus was Today’s Closer. To be fair, Qualls has had good results since his April 19th meltdown, tossing 7 scoreless innings with 8 K’s, 6 H and 1 BB. He shrugged aside a 2-out HBP to notch the Save today.
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Also Of Note: Altuve was 3-for-4 with his 11th 2B, and a BB. Now hitting .288 with a .343 OBP… Matty D notched 2 hits for the 3d game in a row, bringing his AVG to .252… Springer was 0-for-5 with 4 K (all swinging), so evidently the dingers haven’t helped him relax any.
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Futility Watch: The Astros are now tied with the Cubs for the fewest Wins in the Majors after Chicago lost to the Braves Sunday afternoon, their 3rd straight defeat. Meanwhile, the D-backs won their 2nd in a row as some guy named Chase Anderson made his MLB debut by tossing 5 1/3 IP with 2 hits and 1 R for the win. Despite a 12-10 road record the D’backs are a cringe-worthy 3-15 at home. The Astros remain the worst overall, though, 1 game behind the Cubs and 2 behind AZ for 28th place. (note: who’s 27th? Shockingly, the Rays, at 16-22)
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box score
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Happy Mothers’ Day.