Edgar Gonzalez (1-0, 1.69) vs Johnny Cueto (17-7, 2.58)
Doth mine eyes deceive me? For the first time since June, the Astros won a road series. For the first time all season, they finished .500 on a road trip. Matt Dominguez hit his second three-run homer of the series, Edgar Gonzalez turned in his second solid start in as many tries, and Houston reversed last night's 5-1 score to take two of three from the first-place Reds. The Astros pull back to .500 in September (4-4), and are now 44-96 overall.
*Edgar Gonzalez was even better this afternoon than in his first start, allowing only two hits over five innings before he left the game as a precaution due to a foot issue. His line: 5 IP / 2 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 1 BB / 6 K. The bullpen did a fine job thereafter as well, with Wesley Wright (1 IP), Mickey Storey (2 IP), and Wilton Lopez (1 IP) combining for 8 K across four scoreless frames.
Observations:
*Today's 12 hits were Houston's most since they had 14 in beating the Cubs 10-1 at Wrigley back on August 14. Every Astro starter except Jordan Schafer and the pitcher reached base at least once.
*Matt Dominguez led the way, as noted, with his second three-run blast in three games, finishing 1 for 4. Brett Dolan noted that this was Matty D's third HR in 38 AB with Houston since the Carlos Lee trade. Ol' El Caballo has three HR in 208 AB with Miami over the same stretch.
*Tyler Greene also launched another big fly, going 2 for 4 with a solo home run in the 6th. He's now got six homers in 93 AB with Houston.
*Jimmy Paredes had much better results in his second start at second base, going 2 for 5 with a run scored and a strikeout today.
*Brett Wallace likewise went 2 for 5 with a run and a K.
*Fernando Martinez went 0 for 2, but he also had a walk and a sac fly to add a run scored and a RBI.
*Carlos Corporan went 2 for 4 with a strikeout.
*Justin Maxwell and Brandon Barnes both had pinch-hits for Houston.
*Jordan Schafer got his first start since August 6, and he Schafered it, going 0 for 3 with 3 K.
*Brian Bogusevic (1 for 5) also struck out three times, but he added a single for the Astros' 12th hit.
Turning Point:
Houston scored in the first inning in all three games this series, but they took control of this one with two outs in the third. NL pitching WAR leader Johnny Cueto got Jimmy Paredes to ground out and Brian Bogusevic to strikeout starting the inning, but Brett Wallace singled and Fernando Martinez walked to put two runners on. Matt Dominguez then took Cueto's 1-0 changeup way deep to left field to give the Astros all the runs they would need.
Man of the Match:
Edgar Gonzalez. Hopefully his foot issue isn't serious, because he's been superb for Houston so far - now 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA.
Astros win! No goat.
