May 31, 2016
Astros 8, Diamondbacks 5
W: McCullers (2-1) L: Corbin (2-5) S: Gregerson (13)
Sometimes, you go take a win from your opponents. For example:
- Your 8th hitter (hitting .188) and your pitcher both come up with 2-out hits to set up a 3-run home run from your hottest hitter to take a 3-2 lead.
- You string together 4 singles and a couple of walks to add on 4 runs for a 7-2 lead.
- You hit solo home runs (Luis Valbuena woke up!)
Sometimes, you do things to give a game to your opponents. Such as:
- Getting your dumb ass hit by a ground ball, George Springer. Leadoff double: erased. Video evidence.
- Walking 4 batters in your 5 innings, Lance McCullers.
And sometimes, your opponents do things to hand you the game – like lining a shot off the wall over a leaping Springer with runners on first and second, but not scoring a run because the lead runner misread the play. Thanks, snakes.
However you look at it, the Astros held a comfortable lead for most of the game. Feldman gave up a pair in the 9th after an Altuve error to make things slightly uncomfortable, but Gregerson absolutely slammed the door – a welcome sight after several recent outings.
The Astros come home within 5 games of .500, and there may be light in that tunnel that’s not an oncoming train.