Jarred Cosart (3-4, 4.39) vs Danny Duffy (2-4, 2.59)
Well, weren't that fun? The Astros came out this afternoon looking for their first sweep of the season, George Springer came out looking to avenge his 36-hour homerless streak, and Jarred Cosart... well, I think Cosart is just always fired up about something. Combined, Houston struck early and often, and the outcome was never really in doubt. Astros complete the Kansas City sweep with a 9-3 final today - thus extending the winning streak to 5 games, finishing the road trip 6-4, pulling even at 13-13 for the month of May, and improving again to 22-32 overall.
On the Mound:
*Jarred Cosart again didn't have his best stuff today, as it took him 95 pitches to fight his way through 5 innings, while recording only one strikeout. An error by Jonathan Villar hurt in the 5th, but in spite of all that, Cosart still limited the Royals to just one earned run, finishing with a 5 IP / 4 H / 2 R / 1 ER / 2 BB / 1 K line.
*Jerome Williams took over for the 6th and 7th, scratched only by a Brett Hayes solo HR.
*Darin Downs surrendered only an Eric Hosmer single in a scoreless 8th.
*Then Kyle Farnsworth allowed a leadoff single and a one-out walk in the 9th, but otherwise escaped unscathed.
*Jerome Williams took over for the 6th and 7th, scratched only by a Brett Hayes solo HR.
*Darin Downs surrendered only an Eric Hosmer single in a scoreless 8th.
*Then Kyle Farnsworth allowed a leadoff single and a one-out walk in the 9th, but otherwise escaped unscathed.
At the Plate:
*Lots of offense! So much offense! After stranding 11 LOBsters the night before, Houston actually left 13 today, going only 2x14 with RISP. But 10 walks paired with 11 hits - including 3 home runs - allowed them to turn out 9 runs away. Every Astro starter reached base at least once.
*George Springer struck the first blow, with a 2-run HR in his first AB for his sixth homer in as many games, and his team-leading ninth overall. Gerorge finished his spiffy day at 1x3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K.
*Chris Carter returned to the lineup after three days off, in which he was reportedly working on things at the plate. Evidently it worked, as one home run was just not good enough. cHRis went deep twice - the second a 3-run bomb - to finish his DH day 2x4, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K.
*For the third straight game, the Astros got 3 hits out of the #8 slot in their lineup. The previous two nights it was Alex Presley, but today it was Carlos Corporan, going 3x4 with a RBI double, a BB, and a R.
*Jose Altuve's latest hitting streak is now at 7 games, after he went 1x5 with a BB and a R today. Altuve also committed his first error of the season, on a dropped popup in the 6th.
*Dexter Fowler earned a pair of RBIs on a 2-run single in the 2nd, finishing 1x5.
*Matt Dominguez scored a run and likewise went 1x5, with a BB and 2 K.
*Jesus Guzman got his second stolen base of the season and finished the day 1x4 with a BB and a K.
*Robbie Bob Mike Grossman had himself a fine afternoon, going 1x3 with a run scored, 2 walks, a K, and at least two great sliding catches in left field.
*Jonathan Villar was the only Astros starter without a hit (0x4, K), but he still walked and scored a run to contribute.
*George Springer struck the first blow, with a 2-run HR in his first AB for his sixth homer in as many games, and his team-leading ninth overall. Gerorge finished his spiffy day at 1x3, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, K.
*Chris Carter returned to the lineup after three days off, in which he was reportedly working on things at the plate. Evidently it worked, as one home run was just not good enough. cHRis went deep twice - the second a 3-run bomb - to finish his DH day 2x4, 2 R, 4 RBI, BB, K.
*For the third straight game, the Astros got 3 hits out of the #8 slot in their lineup. The previous two nights it was Alex Presley, but today it was Carlos Corporan, going 3x4 with a RBI double, a BB, and a R.
*Jose Altuve's latest hitting streak is now at 7 games, after he went 1x5 with a BB and a R today. Altuve also committed his first error of the season, on a dropped popup in the 6th.
*Dexter Fowler earned a pair of RBIs on a 2-run single in the 2nd, finishing 1x5.
*Matt Dominguez scored a run and likewise went 1x5, with a BB and 2 K.
*Jesus Guzman got his second stolen base of the season and finished the day 1x4 with a BB and a K.
*
*Jonathan Villar was the only Astros starter without a hit (0x4, K), but he still walked and scored a run to contribute.
Turning Point:
On the first pitch of the game, Jose Altuve reached base on a fielding error by Kansas City 1B Eric Hosmer. Three pitches later, on a 1-1 count, George Springer hit a fly ball left of center field that just kept going, and going, until it bounced off the top of the wall for a 2-run homer, and a 2-0 Astros lead before the first out. Two more runs in the 2nd, one more in the 3rd, and it wasn't until the 9th that the Royals ever retired the Astros in order.
Man of the Match:
Big Man cHRis Carter. Now let's see him keep it going when the Astros return home to MMP tomorrow.
Goat of the Game:
Jonathan Villar. He had the same three-day layoff as Carter (save for a 9th-inning defensive appearance on Monday), and he did score a run. But as the only Astro starter with no hits today, and with a throwing error that also cost his team a run, he's the de facto goat du jour.
