Chris Tillman (4-2, 4.26) vs Lucas Harrell (4-6, 5.37)
Undone by the defense... Lucas Harrell did everything tonight that the Astros have come to expect from their starters in recent weeks. The opposing pitching was stiff, too, but that was likewise a theme of the just-passed Angels and Rockies series. The difference tonight, until the 9th, was that Houston's own glovework was responsible for the bulk of their opponent's offense. The Astros will try to start a new winning streak tomorrow, but tonight they fall to the Orioles by a 4-1 margin. Houston drops to 21-38 overall.
On the Mound:
*Lucas Harrell was as sharp tonight as he's been all season, matching the 7IP/1ER performances that he's turned in twice before (4/24 & 5/19). Unfortunately for him, he's now lost two of those three, as an unearned run was the difference tonight. His line: 7 IP / 5 H / 2 R / 1 ER / 0 BB / 6 K.
*Wesley Wright was the victim of UER #2 tonight, as a throwing error by Jason Castro on a steal attempt at third let Nate McLouth score in his otherwise 1.2 innings scoreless.
*Josh Fields was given the ball with two outs and none on in the 9th, but allowed Baltimore to tack on an insurance run a double and a single later, before recording that final out.
At the Plate:
*Houston's offense was a little more active tonight than last night in Los Angeles, but not much - four Astros combined for five total hits.
*Brandon Barnes was the chief of those, with a towering solo blast off the Community Eyesore billboards in left accounting for the Astros' only run. He finished 2 for 4 with a K overall, and also tossed in one of his trademark diving catches in CF for good measure.
*Jose Altuve increased his hitting streak to seven games, going 1 for 4 with a K.
*Jimmy Paredes went 1 for 3 with a steal and a K.
*J.D. Martinez represented Houston's feeble attempt at a 9th-inning rally, but he went nowhere after his single, finishing 1 for 4.
Turning Point:
Baltimore broke through first in the 3rd on a leadoff homer by Danny Valencia, putting them up 1-0. Harrell sandwiched a pair of outs around a Manny Machado double, but a wild pitch with Adam Jones batting let Machado move up to third. Jones then bounced a low grounder to Chris Carter at first, but Carter completely whiffed in his attempt to get a glove on it, so the ball bounced unhindered into RF, allowing Machado to walk home trot home on the error with what would be the winning run.
Man of the Match:
Goat of the Game:
Chris Carter. A walk and 3 strikeouts in four plate appearances, and the error that let in the winning run.
