Jordan Lyles may never get a win, and the Astros are playing like they're perfectly fine with that. Nationals win 5-2, scoring the final four runs of the game.
*Number of games, out of 96, where the Astros have scored 0-2 runs: 31. Number of games, out of 96, where the Astros have allowed 5+ runs: 53
*Number of runs scored by the Astros in the 7th inning or later: 136. Number of runs allowed by the Astros in the 7th inning or later: 167
*The Astros had a 2-1 lead going into the 7th inning, and then lost it. Record when leading at the beginning of the inning? 22-11.
*Jordan Lyles pitched the best game of his young career, throwing 8.1IP, 5H/4ER, 6K:1BB, and he threw a first-pitch strike to 25 of the 30 batters he faced. Lyles' line was skewed by the complete ineffectiveness of Wilton Lopez, who allowed 2H/1ER, 0K:1BB - and one of Lyles' runs.
*Lopez had made seven appearances without allowing a run, but in his last four appearances (including tonight), he faced 18 batters and seven reached base. That said, he walked his first batter since June 9 - a span of 16 appearances. Still, screw that guy.
*So, the Astros offense did what they do best: Don't get hits with runners in scoring position, and strikeout. They made Jason Marquis look like Don Freaking Drysdale. Marquis' 8IP, 6H/2ER, 9K:1BB marked his 3rd-best Game Score (70) of the season, and his highest in a road start in 2011. His 9K tie a season high.
*Marquis is the 17th pitcher to have a Game Score of 70+ (19 games, Karstens and Hanson have done it twice). It's the 32nd game in which the opposing starter has had a Game Score of 60+ (the Astros have 22 games where the starter has had a Game Score of 60+).
*About that RISP thing, the Astros were 1x12 - with Carlos Corporan getting the lone "clutch" hit of the night. Jason Michaels, who got the start in Brett Wallace's place, was 0x2 (1x4, 3K on the night), as were Michael Bourn and Chris Johnson.
*So with RISP, the Astros are hitting .261. In 967 PAs w/RISP in 2011, the Astros have 25 GIDPs, and 10 homers.
*So far in July, the Astros have a K:BB ratio of 91K:17BB, and are 2-12.
*Carlos Lee was 2x3 with a walk and an RBI - his first such game since July 6.
*In the four games since the All-Star Break, Hunter Pence is 3x15 with no extra-base hits.
*Jeff Keppinger was 0x4 with a strikeout, his first K since June 24 (64 PAs). It's been 79 PAs since he last drew a walk (June 19).
*Man of the Match: Jordan Lyles
*Goat of the Game: Jason Michaels, and consequently, Brad Mills.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
