Philip Humber (0-4, 6.63) vs Clay Buchholz (4-0, 0.90)
You might think that if a team visits a 4-0 pitcher with an ERA under 1.00, and if that team brings along an 0-4 pitcher with an ERA north of 6.00, that probably won't end so well for the visiting team. You might think that, and you'd be right. Much to the surprise of no one, the Astros fall to the Red Sox tonight, 7-2. Houston drops to 7-15 on the season.
On the Mound:
*Philip Humber certainly pitched better than last time around (0.1 IP, 8 ER), but that didn't take much. And he didn't pitch well by any measure. Four runs scored in the first inning today, and three more came in before he couldn't finish the 5th, pushing Humber's ERA to the brink of 8.00. His line: 4.2 IP / 10 H / 7 R / 7 ER / 3 BB / 5 K.
*Travis Blackley came in to get Humber out of the 5th, then stayed on for the 6th to finish with 1.1 scoreless, including a BB and 2 K.
*Jose Cisnero then added two more innings to his big league resume, and he's still yet to give up a run. Only a Mike Napoli double kept him from being perfect.
At the Plate:
*Fernando Martinez accounted for 3 of Houston's 7 hits tonight, with a trio of singles to go 3 for 4.
*Jason Castro recorded the only Astro RBI on a 3rd inning single, going 1 for 3 with a walk and a K.
*Marwin Gonzalez doubled, stole a base, and scored on Castro's single, finishing 1 for 3 with a K himself.
*Chris Carter doubled, fanned twice, and scored on a fielder's choice to finish 1 for 4.
*His previous streak broken, Jose Altuve started a new one today, going 1 for 4 with 2 K.
*Robbie Grossman's second big league game was not nearly as memorable as his first, going 0 for 4 with a K.
*And Rick Ankiel of course K'd twice and walked once in 3 PA.
*And Rick Ankiel of course K'd twice and walked once in 3 PA.
Turning Point:
After getting Jacoby Ellsbury leading off the 1st, the sequence against Philip Humber went BB, passed ball, single, SB, single, E9, K, double, single. That gave Clay Buchholz an early 4-0 lead that you knew Houston would have trouble overcoming.
Man of the Match:
Fernando Martinez. It's only 14 AB so far, but he's now hitting .357 since coming back off the DL.
Goat of the Game:
Philip Humber. A 2.89 ERA after three starts has ballooned to 7.99 after five.
