David Huff (3-1, 5.16) vs Erik Bedard (4-12, 4.81)
Oh, Astros. So. Miami - worst in the National League - loses 100 games, but they get to end their season with a final day no-hitter, on a walk-off wild pitch. Houston? They get to play 14 innings against the Yankees' B-squad, never get a hit after the 7th, and finish their year on a franchise record 15-game losing streak. Which was also a franchise record 111th loss overall. And they also struck out 19 times today, to finish with 1,535 team strikeouts on the season, smashing the 2010 Diamondbacks all-time record of 1,529. The Mariano-less Yankees complete the sweep, 5-1 in 14, and the 2013 Astros' season mercifully draws to a close with a 51-111 final record.
On the Mound:
*If, before the season started, you had Erik Bedard as leading the Astros' staff in starts this year - hop in your DeLorean and return the sports almanac you stole from 2015. Bedard's team-leading 26th start was in fact a gem, but the bullpen betrayed the starters one last time, so he gets a "no decision" for his 7 IP / 3 H / 0 R / 0 ER / 0 BB / 9 K line.
*Josh Zeid allowed a double in between a pair of strikeouts in the 8th, but...
*...Kevin Chapman was brought in exclusively to face lefty Curtis Granderson, and failed, allowing a RBI single to Granderson that tied the game at 1.
*Rhiner Cruz got the final out of the 8th, then Josh Fields allowed a two-out triple in a scoreless 9th to send the game to extras.
*Which brought on Lucas Harrell. Who actually looked really sharp and pitched really well for four innings. But he stayed in the game for a fifth, allowing 4 ER while recording only two outs, to lock down his American League-leading 17th loss of the year.
*Jorge De Leon allowed a single that charged the fourth run to Harrell's ledger, before recording the final out of the 14th.
*Josh Zeid allowed a double in between a pair of strikeouts in the 8th, but...
*...Kevin Chapman was brought in exclusively to face lefty Curtis Granderson, and failed, allowing a RBI single to Granderson that tied the game at 1.
*Rhiner Cruz got the final out of the 8th, then Josh Fields allowed a two-out triple in a scoreless 9th to send the game to extras.
*Which brought on Lucas Harrell. Who actually looked really sharp and pitched really well for four innings. But he stayed in the game for a fifth, allowing 4 ER while recording only two outs, to lock down his American League-leading 17th loss of the year.
*Jorge De Leon allowed a single that charged the fourth run to Harrell's ledger, before recording the final out of the 14th.
At the Plate:
*We've already touched on most of the offensive lowlights: only four hits for the Astros - none after the 7th and only one after the 2nd - to go with a season high 19 K's. Houston had opportunities all over to win all three of these Yankees games, but obviously none of that materialized.
*Jonathan Villar had the lone extra-base hit and scored the lone run, going 1 for 6 with a double and a K.
*Matt Dominguez had the lone RBI, going 1 for 6 with 2 K.
*Carlos Corporan singled in the 2nd to go 1 for 5 with 2 K.
*J.D. Martinez had the lone hit after that, going 1 for 5 with 3 K.
*Khris Karter went 0 for 4 with a BB and 3 K to finish with a MLB-leading 212 strikeouts overall - #3 on the all-time list behind 2012 Adam Dunn (222) and 2009 Mark Reynolds (223).
*Jonathan Villar had the lone extra-base hit and scored the lone run, going 1 for 6 with a double and a K.
*Matt Dominguez had the lone RBI, going 1 for 6 with 2 K.
*Carlos Corporan singled in the 2nd to go 1 for 5 with 2 K.
*J.D. Martinez had the lone hit after that, going 1 for 5 with 3 K.
*Khris Karter went 0 for 4 with a BB and 3 K to finish with a MLB-leading 212 strikeouts overall - #3 on the all-time list behind 2012 Adam Dunn (222) and 2009 Mark Reynolds (223).
Turning Point:
In spite of the complete absence of Astros offense after the 7th inning, they remained in the game with a 1-1 tie from the 8th until the 14th, when the aforementioned Mark Reynolds led off the inning with a home run. Harrell got the next two Yankees to K, but back-to-back singles followed by an Eduardo Nunez double made it 4-1, and Lucas was lifted. Jorge De Leon replaced him and began by allowing another single to J.R. Murphy, driving home Nunez for the final nail in the 2013 Astros' coffin.
Man of the Match:
Erik Bedard. The Pena, Ankiel, and Humber signings obviously didn't pan out, but all in all, Bedard actually did alright.
Goat of the Game:
Lucas Harrell. He started out solid, then the wheels fell off. Which kinda sums up his whole season.
