Brett Oberholtzer (0-2, 4.91) vs Martin Perez (1-0, 4.50)
Against the Angels last weekend, the Astros lost three of four while only scoring one run in each of the three losses. It would be difficult for any offense to take a step backwards from that, but somehow this weekend, Houston managed. For the second time in three games, the Astros fall 1-0 to the Rangers. They finish the road trip 2-4, and head into their first off day of the 2014 season at 5-8 overall.
On the Mound:
*The sputtering offense is the bad news. The good news is that the Astros starting pitchers have started rolling. Today it was Brett Oberholtzer's turn, and he turned in a dandy, becoming the fourth straight Houston starter to go 7 innings. Obie's tough luck loser line: 7 IP / 5 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 0 BB / 7 K.
*Jerome Williams K'd one in a perfect 8th.
At the Plate:
*Obviously not much to say offensively, again. Five Astros had singles: Jose Altuve (1x4), Jesus Guzman (1x3), Matt Dominguez (1x3), Robbie Grossman (1x3), and Carlos Corporan (1x3).
*Three Astros had walks: Chris Carter (0x2, K), L.J. Hoes (0x2), and Jonathan Villar (0x2).
*Villar and Dominguez each attempted a steal, and both failed.
*And that was it. 8 of Houston's 9 batters reached first, but not a one of them ever reached second.
Turning Point:
With the game still scoreless midway through the 6th, Josh Wilson and Shin-Soo Choo led off the inning with back-to-back singles against Brett Oberholtzer, putting runners on the corners with no outs. Donnie Murphy plated Wilson on a sac fly to left, and Obie escaped the inning with no further damage, but unfairly to him, that was the ballgame anyway.
Man of the Match:
Brett Oberholtzer. Showcasing his brilliant best today.
Goat of the Game:
Dexter Fowler gets props for being the only Houston hitter to never reach base, but it's not like the rest of the offense did anything of significance anyway. Goat = Every Astro with a Bat.
