Erik Bedard (0-0, 0.00) vs Tommy Milone (2-0, 4.50)
Well, if you're going to lose, you might as well get on with it and get the suspense out of the way - that seemed to be Erik Bedard's modus operandi Monday night. Bedard was breathtakingly efficient in his ineffectiveness, making sure that this one was over before it hardly got started. Astros lose 11-2 for their third consecutive defeat, falling to 4-9 overall.
On the Mound:
*Erik Bedard came into last night with a perfect ERA after his first two games, but in this one he accomplished the singular task of allowing six earned runs on just two hits while only recording one out. Erik earned an early shower after this show of ugliness: 0.1 IP / 2 H / 6 R / 6 ER / 4 BB / 1 K.
*As effective as Paul Clemens wasn't when piggybacking on Bedard for his ML debut, he actually did exceptionally well last night, coming in to stop the bleeding and eat some innings. (Not Roger)'s line: 5.1 IP / 1 H / 0 R / 0 ER / 2 BB / 3 K.
*Xavier Cedeno continued the pattern of Houston's bullpen struggles, allowing 3 R on 4 H and a BB in 0.2 IP.
*Hector Ambriz saved Cedeno's line from being even worse by retiring both hitters that he faced.
*Wesley Wright finished out the night, but not before allowingDickie Thon's Jed Lowrie's second two-run single of the game.
*As effective as Paul Clemens wasn't when piggybacking on Bedard for his ML debut, he actually did exceptionally well last night, coming in to stop the bleeding and eat some innings. (Not Roger)'s line: 5.1 IP / 1 H / 0 R / 0 ER / 2 BB / 3 K.
*Xavier Cedeno continued the pattern of Houston's bullpen struggles, allowing 3 R on 4 H and a BB in 0.2 IP.
*Hector Ambriz saved Cedeno's line from being even worse by retiring both hitters that he faced.
*Wesley Wright finished out the night, but not before allowing
At the Plate:
*Carlos Pena drove in Houston's first run in the 4th, finishing 2 for 4 with a K.
*Jose Altuve had the other Astros RBI, going 1 for 4 with a K.
*Justin Maxwell had their lone XBH, doubling to go 1 for 4 with a K, and adding an outstanding diving catch in CF in the 3rd.
*Jason Castro and Ronny Cedeno - both 1 for 4 - scored the Astros' runs.
*J.D. Martinez and Brandon Barnes - also both 1 for 4 - also recorded hits.
Turning Point:
Handing Bedard the baseball. He began by walking the bases loaded, then fanned Jed Lowrie for his only out, but that was the highlight of his night. A wild pitch started the scoring, then another walk re-loaded the bases, before Brandon Moss singled to drive in two more on Oakland's first hit. Nate Freiman (we barely knew ye) followed with a three-run homer, and just like that, it was 6-0 A's and Bedard was done.
Man of the Match:
Paul Clemens. He earned a win in his first game, but this time he pitched well enough to deserve it.
Goat of the Game:
Erik Bedard. That was impressively bad.
