From the Office of the County Clerk - G149: Astros v. Angels

Jerome Williams (7-10, 4.81) vs Paul Clemens (4-4, 5.91)

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

This is the way the world ends

Not with a bang but a whimper.

--T.S. Eliot, "The Hollow Men"

And so goes the Astros' last, best chance to win another series before the 2013 season is out. Angels take the game and the series 2-1 today, and Houston drops to 51-98 before a stretch of 13 straight against playoff contenders to close out this forgettable year.

On the Mound:

*No blame should be laid at the feet of Paul Clemens for the Astros' loss today. Of his three big league starts now, two have been gems, as his 7 IP / 6 H / 2 R / 2 ER / 1 BB / 2 K line this afternoon will attest.

*Kevin Chapman allowed only a walk in 1.1 innings of scoreless work.

*Chia-Jen Lo retired both of the batters he faced for the final two outs of the 9th.

At the Plate:

*Marc Krauss deserves no blame for the Astros' loss either, as his solo HR in the 2nd (#4) was the only thing standing between the offense and another shutout. Krauss finished 1 for 4.

*Brandon Barnes was the only Astro with a multi-hit day, going 2 for 3 from the #9 spot.

*Jose Altuve has hit safely in 13 of his last 15 games now, going 1 for 3 with a sac bunt today.

*Jonathan Villar (1 for 3, BB), Trevor Crowe (1 for 4), and Matt Dominguez (1 for 3, HBP) had the other hits.

Turning Point:

With the score tied 1-1 going into the 5th, Erick Aybar and Hank Conger led off with back-to-back singles. An Andrew Romine sac fly scored Aybar from third to give Los Angeles the decisive 2-1 margin. Later on, in the 8th, the Astros got runners on second and third with one out, but Trevor Crowe and Brett Wallace both struck out to kill Houston's chances.

Man of the Match:

Paul Clemens. Tough loss, but at least this is still better than watching Lucas Harrell blow it up again.

Goat of the Game:

Every Astro not named Krauss who touched a bat today.