Altuve Day turns into a win as the Astros defeat Washington 3-2 in 11 innings.
*This is the first home series win since May 23-25, when the Astros took two of three against the Dodgers.
*It's the first two-game win streak since the Astros won at Dodger Stadium on June 17-18. It's the first time the Astros have won back-to-back games at home since April 30/May 1.
*Brett Myers threw well enough to deserve the win (though he didn't get it), going 7IP, 8H/2ER, 4K:2BB. It's his second quality start in a row, and the first time he has allowed two earned runs in a start since June 22. This game snaps a four-game losing streak for Myers, as he gets his first win since June 17.
*Enerio Del Rosario threw a perfect 8th inning to extend his scoreless streak to eight games. Mark Melancon also threw a perfect 9th. In July, Melancon has thrown 8.1IP, allowing 3H/4R (2ER), 5K:4BB.
*The Astros again got a double-digit hit game, with 12, giving them five 10+ hit-games in their last seven. They also drew five walks, most since June 16 (at home vs. Pittsburgh).
*Hunter Pence managed three walks and a hit today - his first three walk game of the season, and first since July 31, 2009.
*Michael Bourn was 2x6, and Clint Barmes and Humberto Quintero (RBI) also had two hits. It's Bourn's third multi-hit game in the last five days, and he's hitting .323 in July. Barmes was 2x5, and is 15x50 with 5XBH in July, as well.
*But the Happy Story of the Day is Jose Altuve. He flied out to right on the first pitch in the 1st, flied out to center on a 2-2 pitch in the 3rd, flied out to center on a 2-1 pitch in the 5th, struck out swinging to end the 7th, and singled to right on a 1-2 pitch in the 9th for his first Major League hit.
*Jason Michaels got his first go-ahead hit of the season with the game-winner in the 11th.
*Man of the Match: I'm tempted to go with Altuve, just on general principle, but this goes to Brett Myers.
*Goat of the Game: Yeah, he got two hits, but it's going to Clint Barmes. With one out in the bottom of the 8th, with the bases loaded, against Tyler Clippard, Barmes fouled out first, when a flyball to the outfield would have scored a run. Then, in the 10th, Barmes GIDPd to end the inning.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
