Dallas Keuchel (3-7, 4.66) vs Marco Estrada (4-7, 3.87)
Well, that was fun while it lasted. In a game that was 100% Brewers for the first 8.2 innings, the Astros had some fun of their own against old friend (?) Livan Hernandez with two outs in the 9th. But a 9-0 deficit was too deep of a hole to climb out of, and Houston went down in a 9-5 defeat. The loss puts the Astros at 52-106 in 2012, tying their club record loss total from last season, with four games left to play.
*This was clearly not the way that Dallas Keuchel would have liked to end his rookie season, but the Brewers were also clearly determined to stay alive for another day. Kid Keuchy was lit up for three home runs in less than three innings, including two by Corey Hart, and he ended his very short day with this line: 2.1 IP / 8 H / 7 R / 7 ER / 1 BB / 2 K. Chuckie Fick allowed a run in his 1.2 innings of work, Mickey Storey pitched two innings scoreless, then Enerio Del Rosario followed a perfect 7th by allowing another Milwaukee run in the 8th.
Observations:
*There would be much less to say about the offense had Livan Hernandez not started tossing BP to Houston hitters in the 9th. The Astros homered off Hernandez three times with two outs, good for five runs before Jose Veras stepped in to record the final out.
*Fernando Martinez had the first of the bombs, driving in himself and Scott Moore on a two-run shot to straightaway center. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
*Brian Bogusevic was next, following a Jason Castro single with a two-run blast of his own to deep center, in a pinch hit appearance.
*Tyler Greene continued the fun, taking Livan's 2-1 pitch to the second deck in left field, back-to-back with Bogey's blast. He finished 1 for 4 with a K.
*Scott Moore singled in between the first two outs in the 9th, finishing 2 for 4 with a K and scoring on F-Mart's long ball.
*Jason Castro followed up his two-HR night by going 1 for 4 with a K, scoring on Bogey's homer.
*Brett Wallace likewise went 1 for 4 with a K.
*Brandon Barnes went 1 for 4 with 2 Ks, but his highlight of the night came on a spectacular diving catch to rob Jean Segura of a RBI double in the 3rd, which he then turned into a double play by throwing to second before Carlos Gomez could make it back.
*Houston now has seven home runs in the last two games. That's their most in two games since they also had seven back on May 2-3, 2008 - also against Milwaukee.
Turning Point:
Milwaukee took control of this one early and never let go. Back-to-back homers by Aramis Ramirez and Corey Hart led off the 2nd, and a two-run double by Norichika Aoki made it 4-0 later in the inning. Back-to-back singles followed by Hart's second homer then made it 7-0 before an out was recorded in the 3rd.
Man of the Match:
Fernando Martinez, for breaking up the shutout and starting the home run derby in the 9th.
Goat of the Game:
Dallas Keuchel. A disappointing end to the 2012 season for the young lefty.
