If Colby Lewis (or any other pitcher, for that matter) HAD thrown a perfect game agaisnt the Astros, would it be the least-surprising perfect game in baseball history? Astros lose 5-2.
*Lewis faced 28 batters last night. That's the lowest number of plate appearances since September 12, 2009 when they had the same number against the...yes, Pirates. Except they won that game, 4-2.
*Lewis' Game Score of 88 was the highest by an opposing starting pitcher this season, besting Mat Latos' 87 on May 7. It's the 14th time the opposing starter has thrown a game with a Game Score of 70 or higher.
*The Astros saw 101 pitches, for a game average of 3.61 pitches per plate appearance. The Rangers saw 154 pitches for a 3.95 P/PA average.
*Moehler actually pitched very well (6IP, 1H/2ER, 3K:4BB). In Moehler's five starts this season, he has thrown 24.2IP, 29H/19ER, 14K:14BB for a 6.93 ERA, and the Astros are 2-3 in his starts. But if you take out his first start, where he gave up 8ER in 2.2IP, he posted a 4.50 ERA and a .718 OPS against. Still, the walks have been a problem. In each of his last two starts, he has walked more batters than he struck out.
*The first four spots in the Rangers lineup didn't fare so well. Andrus/Young/Kinsler/Hamilton combined to go 2x19, 2K:0BB. 5-8 in the lineup went 5x10, 0K:5BB.
*Justin Smoak was 3x4, 3RBI. In the two games against Houston, Smoak is 5x9, 7RBI. He had five hits in his previous eight games (31ABs), and he has raised his OPS 60 points in two games.
*The damage to the game was done for the Astros by the bullpen as Lyon allowed two runs in the 8th and Daigle allowed another run in the 9th. Astros starters this season are 15-39, but with a 4.61 ERA / 1.45 WHIP. The bullpen is 11-4, but with a 5.00 ERA / 1.56 WHIP.
*The Astros didn't get a hit until Hunter Pence reached on an infield single in the 5th, and Pedro Feliz promptly grounded into a double play to end the inning. It was his 6th inning-ending GIDP of the season.
*Michael Bourn snapped a three-game hitless streak with a 7th-inning double, and later scored the lone Astro run of the game. He also struck out, something he has done in eight of his last games (13Ks in 39PAs).
Pitch Count Hero: Bourn (1x4) - 17 pitches in four PAs
Pitch Count Punk: Pence (1x3) and Cash (0x3) - 8 pitches in three PAs.
Man of the Match: Brian Moehler.
Goat of the Game: Pedro Feliz. Ended the inning twice.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
