Colby Lewis (2-2, 6.12) vs Brad Peacock (0-3, 5.01)
The Astros outhit the Rangers tonight, 11 to 10. Each team had three extra-base hits, and each committed an error. Houston batters walked once more than their opponents (3 BB for Houston, 2 BB for Texas), and struck out one time less (14 K for Houston, 15 K for Texas). But the only column that matters is runs, and that was where the Astros simply could not get the job done tonight. 12 team LOBsters for Houston, 1x11 with RISP, and the result is a 4-0 Texas shutout. The Astros drop to 12-27 overall.
On the Mound:
*Were it not for a pair of home runs, Brad Peacock's line tonight would look pretty spectacular, as he set a career high in strikeouts with 11. But two big swings accounted for three of Texas' four runs, and Peacock ends up a loser thus: 6 IP / 8 H / 4 R / 4 ER / 2 BB / 11 K.
*Lost behind the Astros' offensive ineptitude tonight is that their bullpen actually did okay. Josh Zeid got the 7th and allowed only a 2-out single, against 2 K.
*Darin Downs took care of the 8th and one out in the 9th, allowing only a 2-out single in the 8th, with 1 K.
*And Paul (Not Roger) Clemens got the final two outs of the 9th (1 K) with no issues.
*The combined 15 K by the Astros pitching staff was a season high, and their most since they totalled 16 K on September 29 against the Yankees last year.
At the Plate:
*Hahahahaha. It was impressive enough when Houston managed 9 hits without scoring back on April 30 - the first time they'd done that since 2009. Tonight's 11-hit shutout is a new franchise record, breaking their previous mark of 10 hits with no runs, done three times before - most recently on September 24, 1982.
*Give Jose Altuve credit for trying, as he continues to be torrid, going 3x5 with a 2B tonight.
*Matt Dominguez had his fourth straight 2-hit game, and extended his hitting streak to 7 games overall, going 2x4 tonight.
*George Springer shook off Sunday afternoon's golden sombrero and went 2x4 with 2 K.
*Dexter Fowler tripled and walked twice to finish 1x3 with a K.
*Chris Carter also doubled and went 1x4 with 2 K.
*Jonathan Villar was 1x3 with a walk, a stolen base, and 2 K.
*Marc Krauss had the other hit, going 1x4 with a K.
*BUT NOBODY TOUCHED HOME PLATE.
Turning Point:
In the top of the 3rd inning, Shin-Soo Choo singled off of Brad Peacock with one out. Elvis Andrus grounded to short, moving Choo up to second. Then Adrian Beltre homered into the Crawford Boxes on a 2-0 slider, giving Texas a 2-0 lead. The Astros left at least one runner on base in every inning, but they could never finish the job, so that was the ballgame.
Man of the Match:
Jose Altuve. Though his caught stealing in the 1st preceding Dexter Fowler's triple could have been an Astros run if he had only stayed put, but he's got his average up to .298 now - highest since it was .303 back on April 9.
Goat of the Game:
Pick an Astro bat, really, but we'll go with Jason Castro - 0x5 with 3 K and 6 LOBsters himself. Almost 1/4 of the way through the season and he's hitting .205. I'll wager Jason is NOT gonna be the Astros' All-Star representative again.
