The Astros had a 2-0 lead for the briefest of times (a half-inning), and the Marlins won again 6-3.
*The Astros actually got out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the 1st - it's just the 25th time this season that they've scored in the 1st inning, and the 10th time they've scored more than one run in the 1st. So things were going well. Then the Marlins got them back in the bottom half, and the Astros have been outscored 64-41 in the 1st inning.
*This is the first 3-game home winning streak for Florida (they got one against the Phillies before the Astros came in) since April 24-26.
*Jordan Lyles had a rough go of it - throwing 6IP, 7H/5ER, 3K:3BB, and a two-run homer to Hanley Ramirez in the 1st.
*Of the 24 runs Lyles has allowed in his young career, 12 of them have come with two outs.
*The 5th inning was the roughest for Lyles. After hitting Petersen, Infante singled, Sanchez bunted poorly, Ramirez singled to load the bases up. Lyles then walked Logan Morrison, scoring a run, and Mike Stanton hit a sac fly, scoring Sanchez, and putting the Marlins up 5-2. In the 5th, Lyles threw a first-pitch strike to six of the seven batters (Sanchez' bunt was on the 1st pitch) he faced. Morrison's bases-loaded walk came after Lyles was in front, 1-2.
*Fernando Rodriguez worked an inning in relief, allowing 2H/1ER, 0K:1BB. Five of the ten batters he has faced since returning to Houston have gotten on base (3H/2BB).
*The Astros' "offense" didn't do much in the way of getting on base to create runs, drawing absolutely no walks for the 10th time this season, and they saw a three-ball count just three times. And one of those was with Lyles at the plate. In their last eight games, the Astros have 52K:11BB.
*Brett Wallace was 2x4 with an RBI, snapping a 3x22 skid (June 29-July 7). In his last ten games, though, he has 11K:0BB. And he hasn't drawn a walk since June 22 (37 PAs).
*Michael Bourn also had two hits, and in his last four games is 5x18. He, also, has not drawn a walk since June 24 - and has one walk in his last 65 ABs. From your lead-off man.
*Hunter Pence was the only position player to not get a hit, going 0x4 with a strikeout, seeing just nine pitches on the night. Other Astros with 4PAs and fewer than 10 pitches: Barmes (1x4), Corporan (1x4).
*Pinch-hitters Brian Bogusevic and Jason Michaels were 0x2 with six pitches seen total.
*Man of the Match: Brett Wallace!
*Goat of the Game: Jordan Lyles
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
