Box Score

Game Zone

Everyone talks about how great of a franchise the New York Yankees are. Of course they’ve won more World Series than any other team. No other team has won even half as many World Series as the Yankees have.

I want to talk about Yankee losses. The Yankees have lost over 7,618 games. The Astros have only lost 4,459 games. The Astros would have to lose 3,159 games in a row and the Yankees would have to win 3,159 games in a row before the Astros could be as big of losers as the Yankees are. My friends, that ain’t happening. I think it is safe to say the Yankees will always be bigger losers than the Astros.

Monday and Tuesday the Yankees attempted to make a dent in the deficit by winning the first two games of the series. Wednesday, the Astros Lance McCullers said he’d seen enough and with Wotan’s blessing, he went out and pitched a gem. McCullers worked 6 innings, striking out 10 while surrendering 5 hits and two base on balls, giving up only one run on a solo homer by Brian McCann. Ken Giles, Luke Gregerson, and Will Harris were all outstanding, each working an unblemished inning with Harris picking up his 11th save.

The Astros scored all four of their runs off Yankee starter Masahiro Tanaka who lasted 5 innings. Colby Rasmus broke out of his 0 for 30 slump with a 2 run dinger, Carlos Correa drove in his 65th RBI. Carlos Gomez knocked in his 29 RBI before leaving the game with a hammy injury. Jose Altuve picked up 2 more hits and his average is at .357, his OPS is .988.

The Rangers lost on Wednesday, the lead over the Astros is now 2.5. No game on Thursday. Astros travel to Detriot and face the Tigers in a game that starts at 6:10 pm CST. Colin McHugh starts for the Good Guys and Matt Boyd for the Tigers.

WP: Fister (10-6)

LP: Mendgen (1-5)

Box Score

Game Zone

Jake Marisnick and the Astros pounded the Daniel Mendgen and the A’s Wednesday to avoid sweep. After dropping this year’s first three Wednesday games, the Astros have now won 12 Wednesdays in a row.

Fast working Doug Fister limited the A’s to 4 hits and gave away 2 free passes while striking out 5 in 7 solid innings to become the first Astro pitcher to reach double figures in wins. The Astros are 13 and 6 in Fister’s 19 starts. Chris Devenski followed Fister with a perfect 2 innings of relief, striking out 3.

The Astros opened an early lead with one run in the first and 2 runs in the second inning. Jake Marisnick led the hit parade with 2 hits, Jose Altuve and George Springer also added 2 hits apiece. Carlos Correa drove in three runs and in the post game interview mentioned Altuve getting on base so often as the reason he is leading the team in RBI.

Altuve is something like 12 for last 17. He went 8 for 12 with 2 walks for the three games in Oakland and extended his road hitting streak to 19 games. He is amazing, he is hitting like you used to see Rod Carew or Tony Gwynn hit, but with more power than they ever displayed.

The Astros are 20-14 in day games this season.

The Astros are off on Thursday, this is good, they are horrible on Thursdays with a 1-8 record. On Friday, the Astros will  host the Angels. Lance McCullers (4-4) takes the mound against the Angels’ Matt Shoemaker (5-9).

WP: Giles (1-3)

LP: Diaz (0-2)

Save: Gregerson (14)

Box Score

Game Zone

Facing Mariners starter and forgotten Astro Wade LeBlanc, the Astros scored three runs in the first, and one run in both the second and third innings. Carlos Gomez contributed a double and a triple, Carlos Correra added a double, and Evan Gattis swatted a homerun. Leading 5 to 0 going in to the fourth inning, it looked like the Astros were cruising. Then Mike Fiers started throwing meat and couldn’t make it out of the inning before surrendering 4 runs, making the score 5-4.

Chris Devenski took over for Fiers and stemmed the tide shutting down the Mariners over the next 2.2 innings. In the bottom of the 6th inning the Astros pounced on Nathan Karns, Gomez scored from third on a fielders choice by Gattis when Kyle Seager fielded the ball and subsequently threw to the visitors on-deck circle instead of the home plate. J.R Reed scored the second run of the inning on a single by George Springer. The Astros ended the 6th inning leading 7 to 4, once again things were looking comfortable for the Good Guys.

Enter Michael Feliz for the 7th inning, the good news–he struck out three, the bad news–he surrendered three runs and the lead after Seth Smith homered driving in Ketel Marte and Leonys Martin and tying the game at 7-7. Ken Giles took over in the 8th inning and made it out unscathed, he got Pulgasari to ground out to short, and then struck out both Adam Lind and Chris Iannetta.

Facing Edwin Diaz in the bottom of the 8th, Jason Castro led off with his second double of the night and was promptly replaced at second by pinch runner Jake Marisnick. After Springer K’d on a foul tip, Luis Valbuena gave the Astros a 2 run lead when he smashed a homer to the upper deck in RF to make the score 9-7 in favor of the Astros. It was close to a carbon copy of Valbuena’s previous night’s HR.

A.J. Reed decided Will Harris needed the night off and gave the ball in the 9th to former closer Luke Gregerson for a chance at his 14th save of the year. After getting Ketel to ground out, he walked the next two batters and the gave up a run scoring double to Robinson Cano. With the score now 9-8, Gregerson got Nelson Cruz out on strikes for the second out. Kyle Seager owns Gregerson, so Hinch ordered him walked to load the bases for Pulgasari. The big Korean was unable to do any damaged and Gregerson got him out on strikes to end the game and preserve the dramatic win.

With the win coupled with the Rangers loss the Astros are now 6.5 games back from first place in the AL West. Thursday the Astros welcome the Oakland A’s to town for a four game series. Doug Fister will start for the Astros and Rich Hill will be the A’s starter. The game will start at 7:10

W: Keuchel (5-9)

L: Weaver (6-7)

Box Score

Game Zone

Starting off with a 1 run lead, Dallas Keuchel threw 55 pitches in the first two innings. He didn’t look like a Cy young award winner. After flirting with disaster and surrendering 2 runs, he settled down and watched his team score in 6 of 9 frames, three of those with crooked numbers. In the end it was not close and for the second week in a row the Astros sweep the Angels in a three game series

Jose Altuve continues to amaze, he had another 4 hit night, 2 singles, a double, and a triple. His on-base streak now stands at 32 games. He is second in the league in OPS at 1.004, first in batting average at .357, first in OBP, fourth in slugging, and second in WAR, first in hits. I think he must be the leading MVP candidate.

It’s been quite an offensive turnaround the past couple of weeks. It went from famine to feast. It seemed like Luis Valbuena was 0 for April, now he is hitting .259 and counting the one he hit Wednesday, he now has 9 home runs. George Springer hit his 17th HR and is making a strong case to be added to the All-Star roster.

All hail Wotan, the Astro have now won 10 Wednesday games in a row!

The Astros are off Thursday and Friday open a three game series with the White Sox. Mike Fiers (5-3) will go against Miguel Gonzalez (1-3) in a 7:10 pm CST start time.

WP: Gregerson (2-1)

L: Shoemaker (3-8)

Save: Harris (6)

Box Score

Game Zone

The 2nd place Astros waited until they were trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th inning before someone gave Wotan a wake up call and reminded him the Astros had a day game. He came through and the Astros worked their way back to tie the game. They scored two more in the 8th inning and the last run proved to be the game winner as Will Harris struggled in the ninth inning allowing 1 run before retiring the side and picking up his 6th save.

The Astros have won 9 Wednesday games in a row. Coincidence or Wotan?

Lance McCullers has all the tools but he lacks consistency and often gets himself in jams. However, he usually works his way out of those jams with minimum damage. Wednesday was no different. In spite of 6 hits and 3 walks he allowed jut 1 run in his 5.2 innings before giving way to Pat Neshek.

Scott Feldman took over for Neshek and continued to impress, giving up nothing but a hit in his 1 inning. Luke Gregerson picthed the 8th and picked up his second win against one loss.

Jose Altuve hit his 12th homerun and walked twice, one intentional. He is now hitting .343. I’m starting to think he might be legit. Correra drove in his 40th RBI and Marwin Gonzalez his 17th. Marwin hit a triple that would have been a homerun in like 27 other ballparks. Marwin can’t be kept down. He has continued to have to prove himself his whole career. He has reached apoint where he is more than just a really valuable utility guy.

No game on Thursday. Friday the Astros (37-36 2nd AL West) travel to Kansas City to face the World Champion KC Royals (38-33 2nd AL Central). Dallas Keuchel (3-9) takes the bump against Edison Volquez (7-6). The game starts at 7:15 pm CST.

WP: Sipp (1-2)

LP: Siegrist (4-2)

Save: Harris (5)

Box

Game Zone

Adam Wainwright commercial A Damn Wayne Wright Commercial

The game started as a pitcher’s duel between Adam Wainwright and Collin McHugh, in the end, neither factored in the decision. After the Cards took a 1 to 0 lead in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Astros doubled down in the top of the eight when George Springer smashed his 15 home run of the season to give the Astros a 2-1 lead. It turned out to be all they would need, but for good measure, they tacked on a couple of more runs in the top of the ninth as well.

Springer was also a star in the field, making some great throws, picking up one outfield assist and he nearly had two more.

After dropping the first three Wednesday games of the season, the Astros have now won eight Wednesday games in a row.

The Astros have Thursday off. Friday they welcome the Reds from Cincinnati, Lance McCullers will go againt mound opponent John Lamb. Haircuts in homerun alley?!?!? Who goes to a game to get a haircut? Gym bags to the first 10 thousand or something like that.

WP: Doug Fister (6-3)

LP Tom Wilhemsen (2-3)

Save: Will Harris (2)

Box Score

Game Zone

Yu Darvish started but didn’t make it to the sixth inning, his shoulder was tight. Aw. Later Adrian Beltre, limped off the field with a sore hammy. “Stinky” didn’t assault anybody.

The Astros won. In Arlington. Such a great feeling. They should do it more often.

Thursday the get a chance to win in Arlington again. Colin McHugh squares off against Martin Perez in a 1:10 pm CST start.

Attendance : 37,696

WP: Michael Feliz (4-0)

LP: Tyler Clippard (2-2)

Box Score

Game Zone

Luke Gregerson might have suffered a snakebite trying to pickup his 14 save of the season but the venom didn’t have any effect on Pat Neshek or Michael Feliz. Neshek came in to finish the ninth with no more damage and Feliz continued his brilliance shutting down the legless bastards in the 10th and 11th, setting up the Astros for the big finish in their half of the 11th inning.

The Astros starter Mike Fiers  flirted with disaster early, walking batters, throwing wild pitches and was very lucky he didn’t have the Astros down 5 -0 after three. He can thank Carlos Gomez and Jake Marisnick for making some really nice runs saving catches in the outfield. The Snakes did strike first with one run in the third inning.

Diamondback starter was a bit wild himself but initially the Astros couldn’t take advantage of it. Finally the Astros scored three runs in the fifth inning following a combination of a Jose Altuve double, who scored on Correra’s single, and then Gattis followed up with a two run bomb (his 6th HR on the year) to make the score 3-1. The Astros added another run in the 8th when Marwin Gonzalez scored on Tony Kemp’s sacrifice fly.

Gregerson in for the save, blew his chance at number 14 when he gave of a three run homer to Jake Lamb. After an uneventful 10th inning and top half of the 11th inning the Astros were able to club the snakes to death via George Springer’s 13th homerun. It left a smell of napalm victory in the air.

Thursday is another businessman’s special, the Astros will try to pick up a split series sweep of the Diamondbacks in a game that features starters Dallas Keuchel and Zack Grienke and starts at 1:10pm CST.

Game Time: 3:43

Umpires: HP-Sean Barber. 1B-Ron Kulpa. 2B-Chris Conroy. 3B-Jerry Meals.

Weather: 70 degrees.

Roof Closed.Wind: 0

MPH.Attendance: 22,642

WP: Pat Neshek (2-0)

LP: Tyler Wilson (2-3)

Save: Luke Gregerson (12)

Box Score

Game Zone

Before last year, when the Astros were generally acknowledged as the worst team in baseball, the Astros had such a knack for winning on Wednesdays that it was determined that The Norse God Wotan must be one of the Baseball Gods and he that liked to shine his light upon the woeful Astros. Last year, the team was good, and Wotan became bored and disinterested, and the Astros Wednesday record was on par with the won-loss record of every other day of the week.

This years rocky start seems to have piqued the interest of our old friend Wotan. After losing the first 3 Wednesday games this year, the Astros have now won 5 Wednesday games in a row. Is it the dollar dogs? But wait there’s more, another interesting fact, that I’m sure is being overlooked by the ABT (Astros Brain Trust); in May, the Astros are 8 wins and 2 losses in games played on Mondays. Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. By contrast the team has only 4 wins against 9 losses in games not played on Wednesdays, Mondays, or Tuesdays. That’s just ridiculous.  Maybe it’s time for these advance metrics guys to start factoring in days of the week in their equation.

Starter Collin McHugh struck out a season-high 10 over 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and a walk,  while surrendering 3 runs in a no-decision. His second strong start in a row without a victory to show for it. Pat Neshek earned the win with two-thirds of an inning in relief of McHugh in the sixth, and Luke Gregerson closed out the game with a scoreless ninth for his 10th save. Ken Giles in the 7th and Will Harris in the 8th were sharp as nails with holds in each of their respective innings.

After falling behind 1-0 after the first inning, Marwin Gonzales led off the third with a single, advanced to second on Tony Kemp’s sacrifice bunt, then scored on George Spinger’s RBI single. Evan Gattis, who started the night behind the plate, continued his power surge. His 2 run homer to left in the 4th put the Astros up, 3-1.

The Orioles tied it up with 2 runs in the 6th inning, and the Astros struck back in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer by Luis Valbuena to put the Astros back on top for good at 4-3. It was Valbuena’s 4th homer and 13th RBI on the season, it seems like most of that production has been in the past week.

Since Gattis’ refresher course in minor leagues, he’s hit four homers and recorded a hit in seven of eight games. Thursday Lance McCullers faces Kevin Gausman in a 7:10pm CST start.

WP: Doug Fister: (4-3)

LP: Matt Latos (5-1)

Save: Luke Gregerson (9)

Game Zone

Box Score

Like he does so often Jose Altuve led off the game with a hit, a single. Followed by a walk to George Springer and a single by Carlos Correa, and the Astros took an early 1-0 lead. The White Sox came back to tie the Astros in the bottom of the first but it wouldn’t last. After Luis Valbuena grounded out, Jason Castro hit a single and setup Tony Kemp’s first major league at bat, his first RBI and his first hit, a double that gave the Astros a 2-1 lead and the Astros never looked back.

Doug Fister scattered 9 hits over 6.1 innings, he walked 1 and stuck out 5, allowing the White Sox 3 runs. Finishing out the 7th Ken Giles was a little shaky, allowing his inherited runner to score. Will Harris was perfect in the 8th inning, striking out two of the three he faced. Luke Gregerson got back on track, closing out the 9th for his 9th save on the year.

Tony Kemp finished the game 2 for 3. Colin Moran wasn’t a fortunate in his MLB debut, batting 6th, he was 0-3 with 1 walk and1 strikeout. Jason Castro continues to slowly improve his offense, hitting a solo homer, his third, and scoring three runs. He is now hitting .223. Jose Altuve has his average up to .348 and is really looking like one of the leading MVP candidates.

Thursday night Colin McHugh (4-3) is tasked with facing off against the great Chris Sale (8-0). A sweep will be next to impossible. Chris Sale is perhaps the most dominate pitcher in the AL if not in all of MLB. He is basically unhittable. Game time is 7:10 pm CST.

Game Time: 2:57

Umpires: HP-Dan Bellino. 1B-Adam Hamari. 2B-Tom Hallion. 3B-Tony Randazzo.

Weather: 57 degrees. Clear.

Wind: 11 MPH Left to Right.

Attendance: 14,936