Jeremy Guthrie (2-0, 3.55) vs Dallas Keuchel (1-1, 3.75)
Happy #SpringerDay! Of course the arrival of George Springer in Houston meant that the Astros were going to go 148-0 for the rest of the season, sweep the World Series, and get baseball reinstated to the Olympics. Of course that didn't happen, either. Even Springer (shockingly) couldn't carry the entire team by himself, and Houston fell to Kansas City 6-4 in 11 innings. The Astros drop to 5-10 on the season.
On the Mound:
*The trend of solid starts by Astros not named Harrell continued, as Dallas Keuchel was on again. Six solid innings, and he left with a 4-2 lead, so no complaints. Line: 6 IP / 6 H / 2 R / 2 ER / 1 BB / 5 K.
*Unfortunately the bullpen couldn't hold that lead, and the trouble started with Brad Peacock in the 7th. Two hits in two thirds of an inning led to two runs charged to his ledger after he left.
*Kevin Chapman got his second scoreless appearance of the season... but faced only one batter and walked him.
*Then Matt Albers' very first pitch resulted in a two-run single that plated both of Peacock's runners. He also had a walk and a K over 1.1 innings, but Albers turns in an officially scoreless outing and gets tagged with a blown save, while Peacock is charged with the tying runs and gets credit for a hold. Reliever stats are stupid.
*Josh Fields at least turned in a perfect 9th, assisted by a force play at first that was originally ruled safe, but challenged and overturned.
*Jerome Williams got the call for free baseball, and allowed two singles in a scoreless 10th, but then allowed two runs in the 11th to earn the loss.
At the Plate:
*But George Springer! George earned the first of his 3000 career hits with an infield single in the 3rd, and scored Houston's first run of the night. But he was also caught stealing after a walk in the 5th, so he finished his obviously much anticipated big league debut going 1x5 with a BB, a R, and 2 K.
*Jason Castro plated Springer for that first run, and himself for the second, with a two-run bomb in the 3rd. The homer was Castro's third of the year, and he finished 2x4 with a BB and a K.
*Marc Krauss got in on the action with his own two-run dinger, going deep in the 6th for his first of the season. He finished 2x4 with a K.
*Jose Altuve is Jose Altuve, going 2x6 with a K.
*Marwin Gonzalez also had a multi-hit night, going 2x4 with a BB and a K.
*Matt Dominguez was 1x5 with Houston's other hit. Jesus Guzman was 0x4 with 2 K, but he did walk once, and scored on Krauss' home run.
Turning Point:
Both teams ended the 10th with two runners aboard, but neither scored. But then Mike Moustakas took Jerome Williams deep on a 2-1 changeup leading off the 11th. The Royals added another run thereafter on a single, steal, sac bunt, fielder's choice exchange, giving them a 6-4 lead going to the bottom of the frame. Then the Astros got two on with two out and Jose Altuve at the plate, but Alex Gordon made a sliding catch on a sinking liner to left that could have tied the score, instead ending the game.
Man of the Match:
Would typically choose a better performance, but on #SpringerDay, it's gotta be George Springer. The kid is legitimately special.
Goat of the Game:
Astros relievers besides Fields. None but Fields did well tonight, and they spoiled Keuchel's solid start and #SpringerDay.
