Adrift Astros Avoid a Seattle Safeco Sweeping

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Sphinx Drummond in Game Recaps, Uncategorized

Astros win 7- 4 Bats came to life and the pitching wasn’t too bad.

WP: McHugh (2-3)

LP: Iwakuma (0-3)

For the third time this year Jose Altuve lead off the game with a home run, to set up the Astros with an early lead. Altuve has 6 homers on the year. the lead wouldn’t last long. Robinson Cano hit a solo shot in the first, his 8th home this year, to tie the game at 1 run each after 1 inning.

In the third inning the Astros scored two more runs after back to back doubles by Jason Castro and Jose Altuve, and a single apiece from George Springer and Carlos Correa. The Mariners couldn’t match, only putting up 1 run in the frame.

The Astros scored 2 more in the 5th and 2 more again in the 7th. The Mariners did manage to score a couple of more runs, one in the 6th and one in the 9th.

McHugh threw 101 pitches through 5 innings and was good enough to limit Seattle to two runs. Sipp, Harris, Giles, and Gregerson finished the game in succession, with Sipp and Gregerson allowing a run each.

Altuve leads the AL with 17 extra base hits on the year. He’s hitting .330 now. He is so awesome. In spite of all the terrible play and losing, the Astros are still only 5 games out of first place. There are plenty of reasons to remain optimistic for now.

Thursday is an off day. Friday they’ll be in Oakland and Mike Fiers will face Sean Manaea at 9:05pm CST.

The Mariners could only put 14,173 fans in the seats last night. West coast games…

The Gift

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Sphinx Drummond in Game Recaps

Astros are kind of a mess right now.

W: Hamels (3-0) L: Fister (1-2) S: Tolleson (5)

HR: White (5), Odor (2)

Box Score

Game Zone

Doug Fister got the loss but he wasn’t to blame. The Astros had two hit batters in the first–didn’t score. They had three straight singles to start the second-didn’t score, and a lead off hit in the third–produced zip.

“Stinky” hit a two run dinger in the bottom of the second inning to provide all the runs the Rangers needed. After squandering several prime opportunities, Tyler White’s home run in the fifth was all the scoring the Astros could mount.

The Rangers have won something like 30 or 40 games in a row at home against the Astros. Maybe Thursday, when Dallas Keuchel (2-1, 2.18 ERA) takes the hill the Astros can stop the brutality and turn things around with a much needed victory. A.J. Griffin (1-0, 3.27 ERA) is starting for the Rangers.

Ouch, That Hurt!

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Sphinx Drummond in Game Recaps

Astros struggling to get it going.

WP: Hochevar (1-0)

LP: Giles (0-1)

SV: Soria (1)

Box Score

Game Zone

In the top of the eighth inning Salvador Perez took Ken Giles deep for a two run bomb to make it a 4-2 ballgame in favor of the Royals. A pitching contest through 5 saw the Royals take a 2-0 lead with 2 runs in the sixth. The Astros fought back scoring one in the bottom of the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game. But then came the Perez home run, followed by the Astros putting up goose eggs for the last two frames, and that was the game.

It was a nice start for Scott Feldman, not great, but what you hope for with Feldman. Tony Sipp and Pat Neshek each worked a third of an inning and each got a strikeout. Chris Devenski continues to impress after striking out the side in the ninth.

Early worries, Giles, Springer, Gomez. Still waiting for these guys to shake off the rust and become factors in the Astros favor.

Thursday the Astros try to salvage a series split with Doug Fister (1-0 5.40 ERA) goes against Ian Kennedy (1-0 O.OO ERA)

Astros Blown Up By The Bombers

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Sphinx Drummond in Game Recaps, News, Uncategorized

No chance for perfect record now.

WP Pineda (1-0)
LP: McHugh (0-1)
SV: Nova (1)

BOXSCORE

GAMEZONE

Backed by a first inning solo homer by Carlos Correa, Colin McHugh was ready to face the Yankees in the bottom of the first. He was awful. He couldn’t be blamed for the catcher’s interference call that put lead off hitter Jacoby Ellsbury on and opened the flood gates, but everything else was on McHugh. Walks, Singles, Doubles, McHugh seemed in an extremely inappropriate charitable mood. Finally after 5 runs had scored and only one out recorded, A.J. Hinch had seen enough and replaced McHugh with Michael Feliz.

Feliz didn’t make it too much harder for the Bombers but eventually retired the side allowing only one more run to score, making it 6-1 in favor of the Yankees at the end of the first inning. It looked like it was going to be one of those night. But, then for a moment it didn’t.

The Astros came roaring back in the top of the second climaxed by George Springer’s grand slam to pull the Astros to within one run at 6 to 5. For a moment it looked like we had a game, and then it didn’t.

The Yankees just kept scoring runs, ex-Cub Starlin Castro hit a three run homer to make it 9 to 5 after two innings of play, after three innings it was 12 to 5 in favor of the Yankees. Stayed that way ‘til Carlos Correa hit another bomb (460 feet or something) in the fifth inning to complete the Astros scoring, and making it a 12 to 6 ballgame.

The Yankees added a few more runs for good measure and Ivan Nova earned a four inning save pitching in relief of Pineda. It was a horrendous night for the Astros and McHugh particularly. McHugh is currently sporting a 135.00 ERA. Ouch.

Thursday’s game has a 3:05 CT start, Mike Fiers will face mound opponent homeboy Nathan Eovaldi. Friday the team travels to Milwaukee for a weekend series.

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