Jordan Zimmermann (1-1, 4.05) vs Brett Oberholtzer (0-4, 4.61)
Meh. So the Astros had 9 hits and never scored - that was neat. That's a feat they haven't pulled off since hangin' with Cecil Cooper on May 24, 2009. Of course, if you never score, that also probably means you're not gonna win. Which the Astros didn't. Nationals sweep the two game set with a 7-0 final, and Houston finishes the season's first month at 9-19 - #onpacefor 110 losses, or one game better than last year. Progress!
On the Mound:
*So much for Brett Oberholtzer just getting one bad start out of his system last time around. He was equally bad this time around, giving up another six runs - all earned - for another ugly 4.2 IP / 11 H / 6 R / 6 ER / 2 BB / 5 K line. The 11 hits allowed were a career worst for Obie, shattering his previous high of 8 (done three times).
*Paul (Not Roger) Clemens got the piggyback call from the pen, and with no Jed Lowries to throw at this time, he did pretty okay. Only a solo home run by Anthony Rendon (sigh) marred his 3.1 innings of 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K work.
*Jose Cisnero fanned two in a perfect 9th, by which time ye had already abandoned all hope.
At the Plate:
*So yeah, 9 hits and no runs. And only one of those hits for extra bases - a double by Jesus Guzman, who finished 3x4 with a fielding error.
*Jonathan Villar went 2x4 with a K, but another shiny leaping catch on defense to rob Steven Souza in the 8th.
*George Springer (1x4, K) gave Houston another error, in an impressive display of can't-pick-up-the-ball, for his 5th error of the season already, and for the Astros' third multi-error game in their last 6.
*Dexter Fowler's 9-game hitting streak died on the vine, after his night went 0x3 with a K.
*Jose Altuve (1x5, K), Alex Presley (1x4), and Matt Dominguez (1x2, BB) had the other Houston hits.
Turning Point:
Leading off the 3rd inning, Denard Span laced Brett Oberholtzer's 3-2 fastball into the gap in right-center. On which George Springer fell down. Then fumbled the ball eight feet away. Then failed twice more to pick it up, before he finally found the handle and tossed it back to the infield. By which time Span had circled the bases standing up, giving Washington the only run they would need. It was that kind of night for the Astros.
Man of the Match:
It would be Guzman but for his error, so Jonathan Villar? I guess.
Goat of the Game:
Brett Oberholtzer did the most damage. But Springer deserves a special mention for how spectacularly bad that one play was.
