Ivan Nova (0-0, -.--) vs Brett Oberholtzer (0-0, -.--)
They can't all be happy endings. Presented with the opportunity for their first opening series sweep since 2001, the Astros had plenty of chances tonight, but they repeatedly failed to capitalize. The result was a 4-2 loss for their first defeat of the season, dropping to 2-1 as the Angels come to town.
On the Mound:
*Brett Oberholtzer became the first Astros' starter this year to allow a run, in the 3rd, but even so he didn't pitch awfully. The offense just couldn't pick him up, so Obie ends up the loser with a 5.2 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 1 BB / 5 K line.
*Brad Peacock saw his first action of the 2014 season and finished the game, allowing only one questionably earned run when Carlos Corporan missed a pop up in the 7th. Peacock's line: 3.1 IP / 2 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 3 BB / 4 K.
At the Plate:
*Dexter Fowler is a man on fire. For the third straight game, he led off with a hit that turned into a run, while turning in his third straight multi-hit performance. Tonight he went 2x4 with a R, a RBI, and a K.
*Jose Altuve drove in Fowler on a force in the first and finished 1x3 with a BB and a SB.
*Jonathan Villar had Houston's only XBH tonight, going 1x4 with a 2B, a R, and 2 K.
*Alex Presley got his first Astros hit, going 1x4 with a K.
*Robbie Grossman also reached, going 1x3 with a BB.
*Jason Castro was 0x1 with 2 HBP, but notably left the game in the 5th with a right foot contusion.
Turning Point:
Houston killed their own rallies with double plays in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th, but pulled within 3-2 after beginning the 5th with Jonathan Villar's double and a Dexter Fowler single. Robbie Grossman walked to put two on with no out, but then Jason Castro grounded into Houston's fourth double play of the game (after which Corporan replaced him due to his aching foot). Jose Altuve walked and stole second, so that the Astros still had two runners in scoring position, but Chris Carter grounded out to end Houston's last real threat.
Man of the Match:
Dexter Fowler. As Tags notes, he's only the second player (with Ken Caminiti) to begin his Houston career with three straight multi-hit games.
Goat of the Game:
Carlos Corporan. While not officially an error, his dropped pop up in 7th gifted the Yankees with an insurance run.
