Jordan Lyles (4-12, 5.44) vs Mike Fiers (9-9, 3.55)
Spoiler alert! It was obvious before the All-Star break that this Astros team wouldn't be extending their season beyond 162 games. The popular goal for such teams, then, becomes making it as difficult as possible for anyone else to make the postseason, either. The Astros have done a great job of that this month, putting significant dents in the playoff hopes of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia; while no one was going to keep Cincinnati from the division crown, Houston at least derailed their playoff train for a while, too. And with today's win, they put the final nail in Milwaukee's coffin, officially eliminating the Brewers from the NL Wild Card race. Jordan Lyles ends his 2012 season on an outstanding note, leading the Astros to a 7-0 victory. Houston heads south to Chicago at 53-106, for their final three games in the National League.
*Jordan Lyles' day really couldn't have gone much better, holding a powerful Milwaukee offense to just four scattered singles and a walk. He needed only 103 pitches to finish off the Brewers, for his first career big league complete game and shutout. His final line: 9 IP / 4 H / 0 R / 0 ER / 1 BB / 3 K.
Observations:
*The Astros blasted four more home runs today - all solo shots - for a total off 11 in the three-game series. That's their most in a three-game stretch since they also had 11 in three games from August 31-September 3, 2004.
*Houston pitchers won't get many chances to hit in the American League next season, so Jordan Lyles made the most of his last chance to swing the bat for a while, too. To go with his first career shutout, he added his first career home run, launching a Mike Fiers fastball to the second deck in left-center in the 5th. Lyles finished 1 for 3 at the plate.
*Fernando Martinez homered an inning before Lyles, for his fifth of the season. He ended up going 2 for 4 with a K.
*An inning after Lyles' blast, Jed Lowrie took Fiers deep leading off the 6th, for his 16th HR of the season. He went 1 for 4 with a BB and a K.
*Matt Dominguez then went back-to-back with Lowrie, blasting his fifth of the year just inside the foul pole in left. He finished 2 for 5 with two strikeouts and two runs scored.
*Tyler Greene got the Astros on the board first, with a RBI double in the 3rd, finishing 1 for 4 with a walk and two Ks.
*Carlos Corporan padded the lead with a two-run single in the 8th, going 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
*Brett Wallace went 0 for 4 with two Ks and an error on defense, but he did also walk and score a run.
*Justin Maxwell once again played all three outfield positions, and he went 1 for 4 with a K.
Turning Point:
In the 3rd inning, the Astros got Lyles the only run he would need today. Justin Maxwell led off with a strikeout, then Carlos Corporan followed with a walk. Lyles came up next and sac bunted, but a throwing error by Corey Hart allowed Jordan to reach safely and moved Corporan around to third. Tyler Greene then lined the second pitch he saw into the gap in left for a double, scoring Corporan and moving Lyles around to third.
Man of the Match:
Jordan Lyles. Today was his day all the way.
The win today gives Houston their third road series win of the season, their 18th road win overall, and finishes their September at 13-14. That ties their 13 wins from May and makes this month, by percentage, their most successful all season (13-14, .481 in September vs. 13-15, .464 in May).
