Lucas Harrell (2-2, 4.58) vs Joe Blanton (3-3, 3.24)
The slumping Astros continued to have trouble scoring runs, and dropped their third straight to the Phillies by a 5-1 count. The game was scoreless until the 5th, but the Phillies then started picking away at the Astros to build a lead that would never be challenged. The Astros drop to 15-20 (5-12 on the road) while the Phillies sit at 17-19.
*Lucas Harrell was actually having a pretty nice night until he ran into trouble in the 5th. Even then, he had a pretty nice outing - he just didn't get any run support (a common theme with the Astros lately). His line: 5.2 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 2 ER / 2 BB / 3 K. Lopez and Abad each had scoreless appearances, and David Carpenter worked the 8th, allowing a 2 run homerun.
Observations:
*Another terrible night for the Astros offense. 7 hits....only 1 walk...and 12 STRIKEOUTS! Ouch. Every single thing this team was doing good at the start of the season....they are doing the exact opposite now. They were walking, they aren't now. They were putting the ball in play, they are striking out now. Just...ouch.
*JD Martinez got the night off again - he has now only seen game action once since May 9, an 0 for 4 performance yesterday. Unfortunately Travis Buck didn't do much better in his place tonight, going 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
*The Astros were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.
*Jose Altuve picked up a stolen base, which has been a rarity for the Astros lately.
*Jed Lowrie made his 3rd error of the season.
Turning Point:
The 5th started the scoring for the Phillies, but the 2 run 6th was what buried the Astros. 3 runs is just far too many for the Astros anaemic offense lately.
Man of the Match:
Carlos Lee had a nice 3 for 4 night at the plate, but let's give it to Marwin Gonzalez for a pinch hit homerun in the 8th inning - resulting in the Astros only run.
Goat of the Game:
Could pick just about anyone here again, but Brian Bogusevic went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. That's bad enough to be the Goat in my books.
