Chris Sale (5-4, 2.68) vs Erik Bedard (1-3, 5.34)
Well, the offense still ain't doing much. At least against Chris Sale, most teams would have the same problem. Were it not for Alexei Ramirez, the Astros would have had no offense at all tonight, but we'll take it any way that we can get it. Neither team scores an earned run all night, but Houston's defense tonight was slightly less bad than Chicago's, so the Astros knock off the White Sox by a 2-1 score. With the two-game winning streak, Houston is now 24-44 overall.
On the Mound:
*Erik Bedard's last start was his first real clunker since he rejoined the rotation back on May 11, but he did indeed pitch again tonight like that was the exception and not the rule. This might have actually been his best start all year, allowing only one unearned run over six innings, for a 6 IP / 3 H / 1 R / 0 ER / 3 BB / 6 K line.
*Jose Cisnero gave up a trio of singles but didn't allow any to score in his 1.1 IP.
*Travis Blackley faced one batter (Adam Dunn) and got two outs (double play) on three pitches to end the 8th.
*The most exciting moment of the 9th for White Sox fans came when Jeff Keppinger drew his third walk of the season (in 213 PA), but Jose Veras allowed nothing else in notching his 12th save.
At the Plate:
*Chris Sale held Houston's offense to five singles and a walk, but that was enough to get the job done tonight. Jose Altuve led the offense, going 2 for 4 with a SB and the only Astros RBI.
*Trevor Crowe also reached base twice, going 1 for 2 with a BB, a K, a R, and 2 SB.
*Ronny Cedeno was 0 for 3, but reached on one Alexei Ramirez error in the 5th, then scored on another.
*Carlos Corporan fanned in 3 AB and singled in the other to finish 1 for 4.
*Matt Dominguez went 1 for 3 with Houston's other hit.
Turning Point:
Chris Sale was as good as advertised, so the Astros caught a break when Ronny Cedeno reached on a fielding error by fellow SS Alexei Ramirez to lead off the 5th. Two outs later, it didn't look like the error would matter, with Cedeno still stuck on first. But a wild pitch moved him up to second, then Trevor Crowe walked to put two on. Brandon Barnes grounded to Ramirez at short, which should have ended the inning, but Ramirez threw the ball away for his second error of the inning, allowing Cedeno to score the tying run and moving Crowe up to third. Jose Altuve followed with a RBI single, driving home Crowe for a 2-1 Astros lead, which is how the game would end.
Man of the Match:
Goat of the Game:
Carlos Corporan. His passed ball in the 4th resulted in Chicago's unearned run, which would have cost Houston the game were it not for the generous gifts of Saint Alexei.
