Andrew Cashner (3-3, 3.81) vs Dallas Keuchel (1-0, 1.29)
Well... crap. The Astros get no-hit by Andrew Cashner for 6.1 innings before taking a 3-1 lead, only to have Brett Myers come in and give up six runs in the 9th, with an assist from Chris Johnson, to turn a 3-1 win into a 7-3 loss. Houston falls to 32-44, and what should have been a winning homestand became a series/homestand split.
*Dallas Keuchel was rock solid for the third straight start, posting a 6 IP / 4 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 4 BB / 3 K line. Kid Keuchy has given up only one run in each of his three big league games so far, tonight's coming on a two-out homer by Chase Headley in the 3rd. Rhiner Cruz pitched a scoreless 7th, and Lyon and Wright combined on a scoreless 8th before the Myers/Johnson fiasco in the 9th. Myers final line looked like this: 0.2 IP / 4 H / 6 R / 1 ER / 0 BB / 1 K, including a bases-loaded HBP that tied the score and a game-winning grand slam by Alexi Amarista - which was, by the way, Amarista's first ever big league homer. Xavier Cedeno came on then to do what Myers couldn't and get the final out, but the damage was already done.
Observations:
*It was another painfully quiet night for the offense, until Carlos Lee broke up Cashner's no-no with a one-out single in the 7th.
*Brian Bogusevic immediately followed Lee's single with a two-run homer to right, giving Houston a 2-1 lead at the time, and chasing Cashner from the game.
*The Astros' third and final hit came an inning later off the bat of Scott Moore, making his Astros debut. His single advanced J.D. Martinez to third base, leading to Houston's third run on a Nick Vincent wild pitch.
*Moore, Johnson, and Jordan Schafer all had multi-strikeout nights, with two for Moore and three apiece for the others.
*Bogey's long ball does give Houston at least one HR in six straight games now, equalling their longest such streak of the season (April 29-May 5).
Turning Point:
The top of the 9th was already looking sketchy, with runners on first and third and only one out. Myers got Logan Forsythe to ground to third for what could/should have been a game-ending double play, but CJ booted it for his second fielding error of the night. That allowed San Diego's second run to score, and set up the scenario that would lead to five more Padres runs and the loss of the game.
Man of the Match:
Easy - Dallas Keuchel. Kid Keuchy should be 3-0 now, but the bullpen has betrayed him twice.
Goat of the Game:
Chris Johnson deserves at least a (dis)honorable mention, with two fielding errors, 0 for 4, and three strikeouts including the one that ended the game. But I've got to go with Brett Myers. Error or no, Myers could have still shut the door on the Padres for a 3-2 win, but the HPB and grand slam that came thereafter are both on him. Your closer and veteran bullpen leader can't DO that.
