Chris Archer (2-3, 4.40) vs Jordan Lyles (4-3, 3.99)
After the way the first two games of this series went, coming away with a split might have been just about as satisfying as the four-game sweep of the Angels. Brett Wallace did everything he could to make that happen, repeating Chris Carter's two-homer feat from last night to snatch victory away from the Rays in the 8th. But Houston's bullpen couldn't hold the score this time, and the loss was that much more frustrating following the dramatic comeback. Houston falls 7-5 in 11, dropping to 31-55 overall.
On the Mound:
*Jordan Lyles nearly mirrored Bud Norris in the preceding game, allowing only one run until two outs in the 7th. But then a very poorly timed wild pitch erased his slim 2-1 lead, and he left the game with a 6.2 IP / 6 H / 2 R / 2 ER / 3 BB / 3 K line.
*Travis Blackley got Ben Zobrist to ground out for the final out of the 7th.
*Jose Cisnero had a rare bad day, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in 1 IP.
*Jose Veras pitched a perfect 1.1 IP before leaving the game after being hit by a James Loney liner in the 10th.
*Josh Fields finished up the 10th cleanly, but the two runs he allowed on a hit and a walk in the 11th would cost Houston the game.
*Wesley Wright got the final two outs of the 11th, but a wild pitch allowed the runner he inherited from Fields to score.
*Travis Blackley got Ben Zobrist to ground out for the final out of the 7th.
*Jose Cisnero had a rare bad day, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks in 1 IP.
*Jose Veras pitched a perfect 1.1 IP before leaving the game after being hit by a James Loney liner in the 10th.
*Josh Fields finished up the 10th cleanly, but the two runs he allowed on a hit and a walk in the 11th would cost Houston the game.
*Wesley Wright got the final two outs of the 11th, but a wild pitch allowed the runner he inherited from Fields to score.
At the Plate:
*BRETT WALLACE LOVES AMERICA. His July 4 sounded a lot like Chris Carter's July 3, launching a solo HR in the 4th for Houston's first hit, then going deep again in the 8th with two on to tie the score at 5. He added another hit later on to finish 3 for 5 with 4 RBI and a K.
*Jose Altuve went 1 for 5 with a run scored.
*Brandon Barnes went 1 for 3 with a R, 2 BB, and a K.
*No other Astro had a hit, but Jake Elmore went 0 for 2 with 2 BB, a run scored, and a RBI on a sac fly.
*Jose Altuve went 1 for 5 with a run scored.
*Brandon Barnes went 1 for 3 with a R, 2 BB, and a K.
*No other Astro had a hit, but Jake Elmore went 0 for 2 with 2 BB, a run scored, and a RBI on a sac fly.
Turning Point:
*With the score still 5-5 in the 11th, Josh Fields started the inning by walking Jose Lobaton. A passed ball by Jason Castro let Lobaton advance to second, then a double by Yunel Escobar drove him home with the go-ahead run. Brett Wallace didn't get another at bat in the bottom of the 11th, so that was the game.
Man of the Match:
Brett Wallace. 3 HR and 9 RBI now in 8 games since returning from OKC.
Goat of the Game:
Josh Fields, by default.
