Armando Galarraga (0-0, 3.60) vs Tim Hudson (10-4, 3.68)
It was nice while it lasted - 48 hours without an Astros loss. Unfortunately they didn't play any games during that time, either. There's no shame in losing a game like this against Tim Hudson, but it's still another loss, and Houston's latest losing streak is now at four games. 4-1 final tonight, and the Astros drop to 35-72 in 2012.
*Armando Galarraga gave up five hits in his 5.1 IP, but four of those were doubles. Paired with 7 walks and a hit by pitch, he's lucky that the damage wasn't any worse. Galarraga's line: 5.1 IP / 5 H / 4 R / 4 ER / 7 BB / 4 K. Kudos to the bullpen tonight, as Wesley Wright, Mickey Storey (in his ML debut), and Rhiner Cruz combined for 2.2 innings scoreless, allowing only a walk by Wright and a double against Cruz.
Observations:
*Only four singles tonight for Houston against Hudson, along with a pair of walks and one hit batter (Brett Wallace).
*Jose Altuve led off the game with a single, going 1 for 4 and keeping his average at .300. El Escorpion is now on a 7-game hitting streak, and has hit safely in 12 of his last 13.
*Ben Francisco was 1 for 3 with a walk, and he scored the Astros' only run.
*J.D. Martinez was 1 for 4 and drove in Francisco on a fielder's choice in the 6th.
*Jordan Schafer (1 for 4) had the other hit, and Wallace (0 for 2) had the other walk to go with his HBP.
Turning Point:
Galarraga pulled off a high-wire act in the 1st, walking the bases loaded but escaping without allowing a run. He couldn't keep it up forever, though, as a Michael Bourn fly out was followed by a Martin Prado double and a walk to Jason Heyward in the 3rd. That brought up career Astros killer Chipper Jones, who doubled to drive in both runners, giving Atlanta all the runs they would need. Marwin Gonzalez missed a popup by Dan Uggla later in the inning that was ruled a double and drove in Jones to make it 3-0 Atlanta.
Man of the Match:
Mickey Storey. He retired both Braves he faced - Dan Uggla on a ground out, Paul Janish on a popup - in his first ever big league game.
Goat of the Game:
Armando Galarraga. It could indeed have been much worse, but it was still bad enough for the loss.
