Jarred Cosart (1-0, 1.15) vs Travis Blackley (1-1, 4.89)
So how exactly does Travis Blackley go from DFA'd by the last-place Astros to starting pitcher for the first-place Rangers? And how do the Astros then manage to lose to him? Sigh. 4-2 Texas, and Houston drops to 41-84 overall.
On the Mound:
*That tonight was Jarred Cosart's worst big league start so far is a testament to just how good he's been so far. He still turned in his 7th straight quality start, with a 6 IP / 4 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 3 BB / 3 K line.
*Kevin Chapman is still untouched in the big leagues, turning in 1.1 perfect IP tonight.
*Josh Zeid inherited a bases-empty, one-out situation in the 8th, but quickly found his own trouble, loading the bases and then letting in a run on wild pitch in the final 0.2 innings.
At the Plate:
*When Matt Dominguez gets hot, he doesn't mess around. He homered tonight for the third time in five games, with a two-run shot off Blackley in the 2nd that accounted for all of the Astros' scoring. He's hit safely in all of the last five, going 1 for 4 with 2 K tonight.
*Welcome to the majors, Max Stassi! He started at DH and struck out in his first appearance, but then singled in both of the next two, finishing his big league debut 2 for 3.
*Robbie Grossman is now up to an 8-game hitting streak after going 2 for 4 with a K tonight. He's hitting .348 (31 for 89) since returning from OKC on July 28.
*Jason Castro had Houston's other hit, going 1 for 4 with 2 K.
*Khris Karter was 0 for 3 with 3 K tonight, but he walked and scored on Dominguez' HR.
Turning Point:
Jarred Cosart carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the 6th, and got Elvis Andrus to ground out leading off. He followed with a walk to Ian Kinsler, for which Adrian Beltre made him pay, blasting a 2-run homer to right that turned the score in Texas' favor to stay.
Man of the Match:
Apologies to Matty D, but I'm going with Max Stassi. Nice debut for the young catcher.
Goat of the Game:
Travis Blackley, costing the Astros yet another game. Wait...
