Astros end two game series with a split.
WP: Alverez (2 – 1)
LP: Thatcher (1 – 2)
submitted by Sphinx Drummond
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The ability to score runs is something that comes and goes. One night your team scores 13 runs in a regular nine inning game, wasting 9 whole runs, the next day they score only one run in 13 innings. Ground Control has statistically the best of all MLB teams’ hack-able data bases in terms of crunching numbers into a cohesive game plan for success but they haven’t yet figured out how to balance out run scoring. I can’t wait for Ground Control to tap into the real-timely-hitting scoring-range-balance ratio-factor, which will allow the Astros to judicially utilize their run distribution over the course of a season for maximum benefit.
In the mean time, George Springer, who didn’t start for some reason, needs to do a better job of not getting picked off of first base and maybe Evan Gattis shouldn’t try to stretch an obvious single into a double. The Astros spit all over the top of the 8th making outs on the bases and refusing to take advantage of a prime run scoring opportunity.
Lance McCullers continued his strong rookie campaign by holding the Angels to one run, McCullers went six innings for his fourth quality start in eight outings this year, he struck out six, walked three, and allowed four hits. Seemingly the whole bullpen, Harris, Sipp, Neshek, Fields, Gregerson, Thatcher, Qualls finished out the game. Thatcher allowed the winning run to get on base, Qualls allowed the runner to score.
The Astros finish the road trip 4-4, and remain at 10 games over .500. Begining Thursday they host the 39-33 New York Yankees for four games. Dallas Keuchel (8-3) gets the series started when he climbs the mound for Houston in their 7:10 Central start against righthander Adam Warren (5-4).