Dallas Keuchel (2-2, 3.96) vs Drew Smyly (2-1, 2.45)
ALL HAIL KING GERORGE! It was hailed (not really) as the Battle of the Razorbacks coming into this afternoon's game in Detroit, with Dallas Keuchel squared off against his ex-Arkansas teammate Drew Smyly. But George Springer stole the show in the 5th, with his first career big league home run kicking off a 3-run rally that put the Astros ahead for good. Then Keuchel stole the show back, pitching solidly into the 8th, and Houston steals the series finale by a 6-2 final. The Astros head to Baltimore next at 11-24 overall.
On the Mound:
*Kid Keuchy was, as already alluded, the Boss Hog today. (Sorry.) While Drew Smyly has the better career track record so far, Keuchel clearly out-dueled him today, with a sterling 7.2 IP / 6 H / 2 R / 2 ER / 0 BB / 7 K line (versus Smyly's 5.1 IP / 5 H / 3 R / 3 ER / 3 BB / 2 K). The outing was Keuchel's longest of the season.
*Anthony Bass faced and retired one batter in the 8th, when Kid Keuchy showed signs of tiring.
*Then Chad Qualls got the 9th and didn't muck it up, facing the minimum on a ground out/single/double play sequence.
*Anthony Bass faced and retired one batter in the 8th, when Kid Keuchy showed signs of tiring.
*Then Chad Qualls got the 9th and didn't muck it up, facing the minimum on a ground out/single/double play sequence.
At the Plate:
*GERORGE! George Springer started his day by robbing Miguel Cabrera on a diving Superman catch in the 1st, then topped himself with a line drive solo shot over the right field fence off of Smyly in the 5th, for his first of 500 career home runs. He later scored again after a walk to finish his day 1x3, 2 R, RBI, BB, K.
*Not to be outdone, Carlos Corporan had a solo shot of his own (his third) in the 7th, finishing with an almost identical 1x3, 2 R, RBI, BB day.
*Also not to be outdone, Matt Dominguez launched an absolute mammoth blast to left field with Springer on in the 9th, for his fifth home run of the season. Matty D finished the day 1x4.
*Jose Altuve followed Springer's dinger in the 5th with a 2-run double, ending his day 1x4.
*L.J. Hoes shook off an 0x20 slump in a big way today, going 3x3 with a run scored.
*Jesus Guzman went 1x4 and nabbed his first stolen base as an Astro.
*Not to be outdone, Carlos Corporan had a solo shot of his own (his third) in the 7th, finishing with an almost identical 1x3, 2 R, RBI, BB day.
*Also not to be outdone, Matt Dominguez launched an absolute mammoth blast to left field with Springer on in the 9th, for his fifth home run of the season. Matty D finished the day 1x4.
*Jose Altuve followed Springer's dinger in the 5th with a 2-run double, ending his day 1x4.
*L.J. Hoes shook off an 0x20 slump in a big way today, going 3x3 with a run scored.
*Jesus Guzman went 1x4 and nabbed his first stolen base as an Astro.
Turning Point:
The Astros were down 2-0 after another solo HR by Victor Martinez (his third of the series) in the 4th, and Chris Carter led off the 5th with a popup to second. But then George Springer did THIS one pitch later, and Astros history was changed forever. Matt Dominguez grounded out, then Carlos Corporan walked and L.J. Hoes singled, bringing Jose Altuve to the plate with two on and two out. On the ninth pitch of an epic at bat, Altuve doubled into the left field corner, plating both Corporan and Hoes, and putting Houston up by a 3-2 margin for their first lead in the series.
Man of the Match:
I can't decide, so co-MotM awards go to Springer and Keuchel. For you know why.
Goat of the Game:
The MMP scoreboard operator, for screwing up George Springer's name back on April 16. But seriously, no goat!
