Jordan Lyles (3-1, 4.30) vs James Shields (2-6, 2.83)
Lots of talk today about 21-year-old RHP Mark Appel, and rightfully so, after Houston (of course) made him the 1.1 pick yesterday evening. But y'know another pretty good RHP who is just 9 months older than Appel? Jordan Lyles. Following day 2 of the 2013 Draft, Lyles led the Astros into Kansas City, and pitched like the former 1st round pick he is. But missed opportunities haunted the offense, and the bullpen couldn't hold the score, so Houston falls tonight 4-2. With 100 games left in 2013, they drop to 22-40.
On the Mound:
*Lyles did indeed live up to his 1st round (supplemental) pedigree, and he just keeps turning in one great start after another. Tonight he tossed 100 pitches exactly, good for a 7 IP / 6 H / 2 R / 2 ER / 1 BB / 3 K line.
*Wesley Wright came in to face lefty Eric Hosmer starting the 8th, but allowed Hosmer to single.
*Josh Fields followed, and that's when the game went to pot. A walk and two doubles resulted in two runs, though only one was charged to Fields for his inning of work.
At the Plate:
*Eight of nine Astros had hits tonight, and the other (J.D. Martinez) had a walk, but 8 LOBsters served as evidence that they failed to string most of those hits together.
*Brandon Barnes had the biggest individual night offensively, going 2 for 4 with a run scored and a K.
*Trevor Crowe drove in Barnes on a RBI triple, finishing 1 for 4.
*Jason Castro is legit, yo. His RBI double in the 7th tied the game at the time, and he finished 1 for 4 with a K.
*Jose Altuve sat out his second straight game with a strained groin, so Marwin Gonzalez manned 2B again and went 1 for 4 with a R.
*Carlos Pena (2 K) and Matt Dominguez each also went 1 for 4 apiece.
*Chris Carter had a sabermetrically strong night, at least, going 1 for 2 with 2 walks.
*Ronny Cedeno finished up 1 for 3 with a K.
Turning Point:
The score was 2-2 when Houston's bullpen came in for the 8th, and that's when the trouble began. Wesley Wright failed to retire the lefty he was brought on to face, letting Eric Hosmer single to start the inning. Josh Fields replaced Wright then, and got the first batter he faced, but Billy Butler followed with a double down the left field line to allow Hosmer to score the go-ahead run. One more out later, Fields surrendered another RBI double to David Lough, giving the Royals an insurance run for the 9th.
Man of the Match:
Jordan Lyles. Is a stud.
Goat of the Game:
Josh Fields. Wright was officially charged with the loss, but Fields nutted this one more.
