A couple of big-ish innings doomed the Astros, mainly because if you can get up by four against Houston, that pretty much takes care of it. Rangers win, 7-3.
*The loss is the 18th in the month of June - a monthly high for 2011, and the most losses in a month since May 2010, when the Astros went 9-20.
*So, from April-June, the Astros have lost 17, 17, and 18 games respectively. This is the first time the Astros have lost 17+ games in three straights months since July-September 1966.
*Jordan Lyles drops to 0-3 after throwing 6IP, 10H/5ER, 2K:2BB, and giving up a homer to Josh Hamilton. Even though the 2Ks are a season low, Lyles still has 28K:8BB.
*Lyles threw a first-pitch strike to 22 of 29 batters. When throwing the first-pitch ball, opponents were 3x7, with 2Ks.
*Things got away from Lyles with one out in the 6th, when Mitch Moreland singled, Yorbit Torrealba doubled, and Kinsler tripled, turning a 3-1 Rangers lead into a 5-1 Rangers lead. That's important, because...
*...If the Astros allow 4+ runs, their record is 5-46.
*Enerio Del Rosario threw a perfect outing for the first time since June 1 (seven appearances), and Aneury Rodriguez allowed two homers for the 3rd time this season, and the second time since rejoining the bullpen.
*So that gives Astros pitchers 97 HR allowed on the season - 5 HR more than 29th place Baltimore, 8 HR more than 15th in the NL (Cincinnati), and 54 HR more than NL-leading San Francisco.
*For the offense, Carlos Corporan led the way with a career-high three hits, and Michael Bourn and Clint Barmes had two hits each. That's four two-hit games for Barmes in his last ten games.
*Hunter Pence had a hit and a walk for the second time in three games, but he's 3x15 (3K:2BB) since returning after a week off for the sprained elbow.
*Chris Johnson got a hit, giving him a six-game hit streak. Johnson's OPS in April: .531; May: .715; June: .815.
*Man of the Match: Jeez, I don't know. How about Corporan?
*Goat of the Game: Jeff Keppinger. Went 0x4 and ended three innings, one with a GIDP.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
