C.J. Wilson (3-0, 4.04) vs Jordan Lyles (0-0, 3.60)
As often as it seems the Astros have been the victims of bad luck this season - and many times more the victims of themselves - it seems only fair that the baseball gods should grant them an occasional victory when it's the other team making all of the mistakes. Houston scored seven times against C.J. Wilson, but only two of those runs were earned, thanks to a trio of errors by LAA catcher Hank Conger. The result was a 7-6 Astros win, snapping their 6-game losing streak and inching a game closer to 4th place at 9-24 overall.
On the Mound:
*Jordan Lyles started out the night very shaky, serving up a 3-run Trum-bomb before the game's second out, but he held the Angels scoreless for 4.2 innings after that, to finish with a 5 IP / 4 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 2 BB / 6 K line.
*Dallas Keuchel was the victim of a Howie Kendrick solo HR in his 1.1 IP.
*Hector Ambriz went 1.1 without giving up a run, but left with a runner on first...
*...whom Travis Blackley allowed to score when he surrendered a 2-run homer to Alberto Callaspo, before getting the final out of the 8th.
*Memories of Jose Veras' last outing against the Angels notwithstanding, tonight he did his job just right. Given a 7-6 lead for the 9th and a chance at redemption, Veras capitalized with a 1-2-3 inning for his third save.
*Dallas Keuchel was the victim of a Howie Kendrick solo HR in his 1.1 IP.
*Hector Ambriz went 1.1 without giving up a run, but left with a runner on first...
*...whom Travis Blackley allowed to score when he surrendered a 2-run homer to Alberto Callaspo, before getting the final out of the 8th.
*Memories of Jose Veras' last outing against the Angels notwithstanding, tonight he did his job just right. Given a 7-6 lead for the 9th and a chance at redemption, Veras capitalized with a 1-2-3 inning for his third save.
At the Plate:
*Jose Altuve moved into the 3-hole for Houston and hit like he belonged, blasting a solo HR in the 1st and finishing 2 for 3 with 2 R, 2 RBI, a BB, and a SB.
*cHRis Carter had another big blast, going deep with two on in the 3rd for his team-leading 7th HR of the season. He finished 1 for 4.
*Robbie Grossman survived Monday's outfield shakeup, and he responded by extending his hitting streak to eight games, going 1 for 3 with 2 R, 2 SB, and a K.
*Jimmy Paredes made his 2013 Houston debut, starting in RF and stroking a double to go 1 for 4 with a R, a RBI, and 2 K.
*J.D. Martinez returned from the DL with a double, finishing 1 for 4 with 2 K.
*Brandon Barnes was the CF tonight, and he went 1 for 3 with a R and 2 K.
*cHRis Carter had another big blast, going deep with two on in the 3rd for his team-leading 7th HR of the season. He finished 1 for 4.
*Robbie Grossman survived Monday's outfield shakeup, and he responded by extending his hitting streak to eight games, going 1 for 3 with 2 R, 2 SB, and a K.
*Jimmy Paredes made his 2013 Houston debut, starting in RF and stroking a double to go 1 for 4 with a R, a RBI, and 2 K.
*J.D. Martinez returned from the DL with a double, finishing 1 for 4 with 2 K.
*Brandon Barnes was the CF tonight, and he went 1 for 3 with a R and 2 K.
Turning Point:
Houston was down 3-1 going to the bottom of the 3rd, which Barnyard kicked off with a single to left. Robbie Grossman followed with a sac bunt, but a fielding error by catcher Hank Conger allowed him to reach safely. Conger committed error #2 on a bad pickoff throw, moving Barnes up to third, then Jimmy Paredes doubled him home. Jose Altuve singled to drive in Grossman and tie the score 3-3, then a pair of strikeouts followed before Chris Carter's 3-run bomb put the Astros ahead for good.
Man of the Match:
Robbie Grossman. His legs led to what would be the winning run in the 7th.
Goat of the Game:
Travis Blackley, for making this one too close for comfort.
