Dallas Keuchel (0-1, 4.43) vs Max Scherzer (5-0, 3.61)
Holy crap, Brandon Barnes! As a bases-loaded blast by Miguel Cabrera soared through the air deep to right-center field, Houston hearts sank with what looked to be a walk-off grand slam for Detroit. But our boy Barnyard - who had just entered the game as a pinch-runner half an inning earlier - made a game-saving snag up against the wall to lock up a 7-5 Astros victory. The win puts Houston at 11-30 overall as they officially pass the quarter pole for the 2013 season.
On the Mound:
*Dallas Keuchel wasn't wholly solid in his second start of the year, but he was good enough at least to match mound mate Max Scherzer. His 5.2 IP / 7 H / 5 R / 4 ER / 2 BB / 3 K line had him leave the game in a 5-5 tie.
*Travis Blackley (0.2 IP), Edgar Gonzalez (0.2 IP), Wesley Wright (0.2 IP), and Hector Ambriz (0.1 IP) combined to get the Astros through the 8th without any further damage.
*Aaaaaaaaaaaand Jose Veras. Always an adventure. Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases without a hit, but then Brandon Barnes saved Veras' save with his golden glovework.
At the Plate:
*Lots of big bats on offense today, led by Mr. J.D. Martinez. A 3-run HR by J.D. capped a 4-run 4th for the Astros; he finished his day 1 for 3 with a walk.
*Carlos Corporan had the most timely of hits, with a RBI double in the 9th plating Barnyard with the winning run. Carlos also homered earlier in the day to finish 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and a walk.
*Jake Elmore made his second Astros appearance and went 2 for 4 with a double, a run, and 2 K.
*Carlos Pena had a RBI single to go 1 for 4 with a run scored and 2 K.
*Matt Dominguez was 0 for 3 with a K, but he drove in the insurance run in the 9th on a sacrifice fly.
*Jimmy Paredes doubled to go 1 for 3 with a K, but also managed to get caught stealing twice.
*Robbie Grossman went 1 for 3 with a BB, a K, and his own CS.
*Chris Carter was hitless at 0 for 3, but scored a run with a walk and 2 K.
*Trevor Crowe, like Brandon Barnes, had no ABs but entered the game as a pinch runner in the 9th and scored.
*Carlos Corporan had the most timely of hits, with a RBI double in the 9th plating Barnyard with the winning run. Carlos also homered earlier in the day to finish 2 for 3 with 2 RBI and a walk.
*Jake Elmore made his second Astros appearance and went 2 for 4 with a double, a run, and 2 K.
*Carlos Pena had a RBI single to go 1 for 4 with a run scored and 2 K.
*Matt Dominguez was 0 for 3 with a K, but he drove in the insurance run in the 9th on a sacrifice fly.
*Jimmy Paredes doubled to go 1 for 3 with a K, but also managed to get caught stealing twice.
*Robbie Grossman went 1 for 3 with a BB, a K, and his own CS.
*Chris Carter was hitless at 0 for 3, but scored a run with a walk and 2 K.
*Trevor Crowe, like Brandon Barnes, had no ABs but entered the game as a pinch runner in the 9th and scored.
Turning Point:
The game was 5-all from the 6th to the 9th, when J.D. Martinez led off with a walk. Brandon Barnes pinch-ran for him, while Detroit switched pitchers from Al Alburquerque to Phil Coke. Carlos Corporan lined Coke's first pitch to LF for a go-ahead RBI double, plating Barnes, and then Barnyard made his heroic two-out, bases-loaded, at-the-wall catch to end the game half an inning later.
Man of the Match:
Plenty of good choices, but I'll go with J.D. Martinez. He finished the Detroit series 5 for 10 with three doubles and a homer.
Goat of the Game:
Marwin Gonzalez. The only Astro to not contribute offensively today (0 for 4, K), and his 6th-inning error cost Houston a run.
