Astros hosting the Rangers 04132018

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

End of 1

Astros lead 1-0 courtesy of a leaddoff Springer dinger.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Smacked the heck out of it into the RF power alley.

Good to see.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Top of 2

Cole pitching

Beltre: grounds out to short 6-3
Gallo: facing the radical shift, goes down swinging.
Guzman flies out to Marwin in LF

middle of 2 Astros up 1 - 0

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Yuli wastes no time.

[Lefty]

So far, Cole looks like a guy who knows what he's doing, 21 P through 2, all 3 Ks on FB.

...and Yuli hits the first pitch he sees into LF for a single.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Bottom of 2

Hamels pitching

Yuli: sends the first pitch he seen this season to shallow LCF for a single
Gattis: goes down looking at strike three
Marwin: strike looking, ball, hits the ball to short, Yuli running makes it to second, Mariwin thrown out at first.
McCann: ball, strike looking, foul, strike swinging.

End of 2 Astros lead 1-0

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Wicked backdoor curve.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Top of 3

Cole pitching

Chrinos: ball, ball, foul, strike looking, foul, foul, K's on a foul tip
Robinson: (hey Jon Daniels, who are these guys?) foul, strike swinging, strike out swinging
Kind-a-falafel : singles deep in the hole at short.
Choo: struck out swining

Middle of 3

Astros 1   Rangers 2

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I want a ring.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I want a ring.

Try match.com

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Bottom of 3

Hamels pitching

Marisnick: grounds out on a nubber to first unassisted.
Springer: grounds out to Beltre 5-3
Bregman: grounds to short, Profar thows wildly and it gets away from Guzman, Bregman is safe at 2nd on an E6
Altuve: strike looking, ball, ball, strike looking, foul, foul, ball, walk ball four, Bregman steals third on the pitch,
Correa: strike looking, foul, lined out   to left field

End of 3 Astros   Astros lead 1 - 0

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Astros seem a little more aggressive early in the count.

And Cole is cooking.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Top of the 4th inning

Cole pitching

Profar: goes down looking at strike three
Mazara: ball, strike swinging, strike swinging, pops out in foul ground to McCann
Beltre: grounds out to Correa 6-3

Middle of 4 Still 1-0

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Got to go eat some grub.

[Aussie Astro]

Got to go eat some grub.

The Fuddruckers sign is making me feel hungry.

[austro]

Sit down, Bannister, you schmuck.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 4

Yuli Ks on a pitch that scrapes the bottom of the zone
Gattis Ks swinging
Marwin walks
McCann singles offer short
Jake stays alive only to swing and miss on a nasty pitch

End 4
Rangers 0
Astros 1

[hostros7]

Sit down, Bannister, you schmuck.

Bannister is such a whiny wang wrinkle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LonghornCDR]

Clowning Bannister will never not be funny. 

[LonghornCDR]

Bannister is such a whiny wang wrinkle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That is a lovely turn of phrase that I will be stealing.  Hats off to you. 

[hostros7]

0-2 count and Cole throws a 99 mph FB on the black, down in the zone. The ump called it a ball, but it was a perfect 0-2 pitch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 5

Gallo taps a bunt foul,  takes strike 2 at the knees,  then Ks swinging
Guzman gets ahead 3-1, fouls off the next 3, then walks
Chirinos gets plunked on the shoulder
Robinson gets to a 2-2 count as a WP advances the runners, then Ks watching a well placed FB
Kiner-Falefa gets rung up on strike 4

Mid 5
Rangers 0
Astros 1

[Astros Fan in Big D]

0-2 count and Cole throws a 99 mph FB on the black, down in the zone. The ump called it a ball, but it was a perfect 0-2 pitch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So perfect.

He really dialed it in on that AB.

[austro]

I was just about to type "More hits, please". That will suffice.

[WVastro]

Holy shit Cole....

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Bottom 5

Springer leads off with an oppo boppo again to RF power alley
Bregman pops out to shallow center
Altuve falls behind 0-2, waves at strike 3 off the plate
Correa Ks on a full count

End 5

Rangers 0
Astros 2

[MRaup]

I'm ready for the offense to not be terrible. Jesus Christ, Hamels is throwing fucking slop.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 6

Choo can't check his swing,  Ks
Profar pops up to Bregman next to the mound
Mazara watches a curve strike,  swings at another,  fouls,  then Ks (twelfth Ranger K of the game)

Mid 6

Rangers 0
Astros 2

[astrojo]

Cole is dealing. Just tied his career high w that 12th k

[hostros7]

If Yuli can abandon la Pina, Keuchel can shave the beard, particularly since he’s off to a mediocre start. No streak with which to fucks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LonghornCDR]

If Yuli can abandon la Pina, Keuchel can shave the beard, particularly since he’s off to a mediocre start. No streak with which to fucks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not digging the Samurai bun. 

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Bottom 6

Yuli grounds out 5-3
Gattis likewise out 5-3 on a hard hit ball
Marwin lines one past short
McCann singles to right center,  Marwin to 3rd
Jake flies out to right ending the rally and likely Hamels' night

End 6

Rangers 0
Astros 2

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Not digging the Samurai bun.

I dont begrudge anyone messing with hair.

Butt I do wonder if they recognize how blessed they are.

[hostros7]

Gallo reminds me a lot of Dunn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MRaup]

God fucking damnit. Thanks a lot, shitburger offense.

[HudsonHawk]

Well, shoot.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 7

Beltre flies out to center
Gallo mashes one to CF for a solo HR
Guzman Ks on a ball in the dirt, McCann completes rve putot
Chirinos ties the game on a shot to left
Robinson Ks, #13 for Cole

Mid 7

Rangers 2
Astros 2

[astrojo]

Top 7

Beltre flies out to center
Gallo mashes one to CF for a solo HR
Guzman Ks on a ball in the dirt, McCann completes rve putot
Chirinos ties the game on a shot to left
Robinson Ks, #13 for Cole

Mid 7

Rangers 2
Astros 2

That was k #14

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Well, shoot.

That was a less than ideal half inning.

[astrojo]

Top of the order, they better get those runs for Cole now

[hostros7]

That was a less than ideal half inning.

He seemed simply to lose focus. He grooved a few pitches early in counts.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

That was k #14

So it was.

Sorry about that.

Career high.

[Texifornia]

I'm used to Not Joey Callo being a pain in the ass....but now Cheerios too?

I hate the Rangers, and I hate that I hate the Rangers.

[astrojo]

Cmon Correa how about the anti dp? One ab, 2 rbi.

[Jacksonian]

I'm used to Not Joey Callo being a pain in the ass....but now Cheerios too?

I hate the Rangers, and I hate that I hate the Rangers.

Let the hate flow

[hostros7]

Swing the bat.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HudsonHawk]

Fuck. I hate getting caught looking to end an inning w/RISP.

[astrojo]

Swing. The. Bat.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Bottom 7

Martin (RHP) in relief

Springer grounds up the middle into the shift, out 4-3
Bregman grounds out 5-3
Altuve gets his shot up the middle thru for a single
Correa goes 1-1; Altuve executes what is effectively a delayed  steal as the  throw goes behind the runner to 1st (ruled a WP because ball bounced into Chirinos), finally with a full count  Correa rung up on a well placed inside FB

End 7

Rangers 2
Astros 2

[MRaup]

SWING THE MOTHERFUCKING BATS! WHAT ARE YOU FUCKING WAITING FOR? A FUCKING INVITATION?

Jesus Christ, this offense is a fucking travesty.

[astrojo]

And with Harris in now, Cole won’t get the win after striking out 14 Rangers. I thought he’d pitch one more inning with only 93 pitches.

[Jacksonian]

It looks to me like Correa is doing too much thinking in box.

[austro]

If this game gets away from them, I'm going to break something.

[HudsonHawk]

2-out broken bat flair and a shiftfuck infield single...2-Rangers on...that’s all for Harris.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Top 8

Will Harris on the bump

Kiner-Falefa flies out to right
Choo gets agreed 2-0, then flies out to left on a 2-1 pitch
Profar drops a single into shallow center
Mazara taps one slowly to the right side,  Correa fields/tosses the ball in one motion but Mazara beats it

Smith in from the pen

Beltre up in the biggest AB of the game thus far, falls behind 1-2, stays alive on a foul tip,  takes ball 2 low/ inside, fouls off a strike of his back leg,  fouls another off his front foot, then grounds out to Correa 6-3

Mid 8

Rangers 2
Astros 2

[Astros Fan in Big D]

2-out broken bat flair and a shiftfuck infield single...2-Rangers on...that’s all for Harris.

Thought there was an ill wind blowing after those two 'hits'.

[TerryPuhl21]

Man, that was unnerving. Good for Smith to get us out of that. We better hit the fucking ball here. If we drop a game to a 4-10 team on a night when Cole strikes out 14 I may have to push the panic button on this offense.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jbm]

Nice resilience that inning. A shit hit and a tough AB from Beltre, but gave up nothing.

And, fuck the Rangers

[LonghornCDR]

Call me, maybe?

[austro]

I'll take any runs anybody will give us right now.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

that is why Fisher didn't get sent back down.

[HudsonHawk]

Astros grab the lead on a walk and a single accompanied by a 3-base error in CF.

[astrojo]

Call me, maybe?

Nope. That call is to the bullpen.  Suck it, Rangers!

[hostros7]

Nice blunder by the CF. He had no upside by taking a chance there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Texifornia]

Who will pitch the 9th?

[austro]

Who will pitch the 9th?

Giles. That's his job.

[Jacksonian]

Nice blunder by the CF. He had no upside by taking a chance there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He didn’t.  Weird hop off of odd spin.

[Texifornia]

Marwin got Bregmaned.

[austro]

Nice blunder by the CF. He had no upside by taking a chance there.

I think Fisher's hesitation at 2nd while he tried to find the ball tempted the CF into trying to get him at 3rd, and he got caught up in that idea rather than fielding the ball.

[HudsonHawk]

Who will pitch the 9th?

Looks like it’ll be Devo

[astrojo]

Looks like it’ll be Devo

Lefty Gallo coming up

[MRaup]

Why ever throw Marisnik a strike? He's flail central right now.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Bottom 8

Jepsen (RHP) pitching

Yuli grounds out 6-3
Gattis walks, Fisher in to run
Marwin scalds a ball up the middle which Robinson boots.  Fisher scores easily, Marwin on 3rd with a single and 2 base error

Diekman (LHP) out of the pen

Stassi hits for McCann, grounds to 3rd, Marwin caught in a rundown,  out 5-2-5-2 (I think).  Stassi takes second
Jake swings at ball 3, gets rung up on a check swing

End 8

Rangers 2
Astros 3

[HudsonHawk]

I think Fisher's hesitation at 2nd while he tried to find the ball tempted the CF into trying to get him at 3rd, and he got caught up in that idea rather than fielding the ball.

He had no shot at Fisher.

[Jacksonian]

I think Fisher's hesitation at 2nd while he tried to find the ball tempted the CF into trying to get him at 3rd, and he got caught up in that idea rather than fielding the ball.

He had his head down on the ball. Bad hop.

[JimR]

Marisnick is worse than terrible tonight.

[austro]

Lefty Gallo coming up

That'll be interesting. Gallo knows that Devo will be coming in to throw changeups. Will Devo cross him up with something else?

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Why ever throw Marisnik a strike? He's flail central right now.

Up 2-0.

Tough luck on the called first strike.

After that,  pure awfulness from Jake.

[LonghornCDR]

So closer by committee it is.

[Texifornia]

CoD destroys Not Joey Callo. One out.

[LonghornCDR]

I think Devo relishes this. 

[HudsonHawk]

So closer by committee it is.

Devenski is her good against lefties, and two leading off. Not By committee, just situational.

[HudsonHawk]

Guzman with his first big lead hit on an 0-2 pitch on the dirt. Tying run on base, one out...

[austro]

CoD destroys Not Joey Callo. One out.

I thought you said that fastball doesn't come by here every night at 9:50?
It doesn't. Some nights it comes by at 9:30.

[LonghornCDR]

Devenski is her good against lefties, and two leading off. Not By committee, just situational.

I like it.  If you have multiple capable arms, why limit yourself to one “closer?”

[HudsonHawk]

Hit batter...tying run in scoring position, go ahead run on base...

[hostros7]

Fuck - tying run in scoring position. 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HudsonHawk]

Strike out. Two on...two out...

[austro]

Not a great night for Robinson I actually feel a little bad for him.

[hostros7]

Not a great night for Robinson I actually feel a little bad for him.

Misplaced.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[HudsonHawk]

Astros win!!!

[hostros7]

Back in the win column!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[austro]

97 from Devo!

Now I don't have to break anything.

[HudsonHawk]

Not a great night for Robinson I actually feel a little bad for him.

Fuck the Rangers.

[Jacksonian]

I like Devenski closing.  He keeps the ball out of the hitting zone better Giles.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

 Top 9

Devo in

Gallo Ks to lead things off
Guzman lines an 0-2 pitch (changeup) into right for a center.   Pinch runner: Rua
Chirinos hit (again) to put runners on 1st/2nd
Robinson takes a pitch that's been a strike most of the night for ball 2, fouls the next one,  takes a high offspeed pitch for strike 2, then Ks on a 95 mph heater
(Same location as the prior pitch,  12 mph faster)
Kiner-Falefa Ks on a 97 mph eye-high FB to end it


Final
Rangers 2
Astros 3

[jbm]

Nice win. Great job by Devo.

Horns take out the Okies one minute later. Great night of baseball.

[Jacksonian]

Even with the shit offense they’ve tied the team best start at 10-4.

[The Spleen]

Fuck the Rangers.

With Satan's scaly member.

[JimR]

I thought you said that fastball doesn't come by here every night at 9:50?
It doesn't. Some nights it comes by at 9:30.

Devo has to pitch backwards some so they don’t sit changeup. He did with Gallo on a two strike fastball.

[JimR]

Not a great night for Robinson I actually feel a little bad for him.

Oh, please.

[chuck]

I feel bad for Delino. I hope he gets healthy soon. Love that guy.

[moriartp]

My girlfriend's dad is a longtime Rangers fan. Being a decent guy, he pulled for the Astros in the Series even though most of his friends gave him shit for it. I told him I understood their position because I'd have rooted for LA against the Rangers. That pissed him off good, but I wasn't going to lie to the man.

Which is to say, fuck the Rangers.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Something to remember:

Mazara was hit twice tonight, neither intentional but we all know that doesn't always matter.

[austro]

Something to remember:

Mazara was hit twice tonight, neither intentional but we all know that doesn't always matter.

I think it was Chirinos, but I agree that it wouldn't be out of character for Bannister to tell his guys to buzz the tower tomorrow.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I think it was Chirinos, but I agree that it wouldn't be out of character for Bannister to tell his guys to buzz the tower tomorrow.

Yes,  you're right.  Chirinos.

[Texifornia]

I thought you said that fastball doesn't come by here every night at 9:50?
It doesn't. Some nights it comes by at 9:30.

Nice pick.