Jacob Turner (3-6, 6.03) vs Collin McHugh (4-8, 3.28)
Collin McHugh returned from the disabled list to make his first start for the Astros since July 6. For 5.2 innings, he pitched very well indeed. But those 5.2 innings came after the first 0.2 of the game, which was a rough welcome back for McHugh. Three runs in the first put Houston in a hole their struggling offense couldn't overcome, and so the Marlins complete their sweep of the Astros with a 4-2 final. The Astros await Oakland tomorrow at 42-63 on the season.
On the Mound:
*A single, a triple, a sac fly, and a home run greeted Collin McHugh in the 1st before he settled in. Only three singles, a walk, and a solo HR followed as he pitched into the 7th after that, so overall it was a welcome return to the Astros' starting staff. But it was still not good enough to avoid McHugh's sixth loss in his last six starts, disappointingly so with a 6.1 IP / 7 H / 4 R / 4 ER / 1 BB / 9 K line.
*Darin Downs faced two batters in the 7th, walking one and striking out the other.
*Then Jake Buchanan followed to finish the game, and turned in his best big league outing yet - 2.1 nearly flawless IP with 4 K, and only a two-out single in the 9th allowed.
At the Plate:
*Houston's offense may struggle, but Jose Altuve continues to soar, going 3x4 with a solo HR (his 4th) and a SB (his 42nd).
*Jonathan Singleton matched Altuve's three times on base, going 1x2 with his own solo HR (his 7th), 2 BB, and a K.
*Marwin Gonzalez (1x4), Matt Dominguez (1x4, K), and Marc Krauss (1x2) were the Astros' only other baserunners, but none of them were ultimately of consequence.
Turning Point:
Christian Yelich led off the game with a single against Collin McHugh. Jordany Valdespin tripled to put Miami up 1-0 immediately, then McHugh fanned Giancarlo Stanton for out #1. A sac fly by Casey McGehee made it 2-0 on out #2, but Garrett Jones followed with a solo HR to give Miami a 3-0 lead. Doctor McHugh was rock solid after that, but Houston's offense only managed two solo home runs all day, so that 3-0 hole decided the game very early.
Man of the Match:
Jose Altuve. We like Jose Altuve.
Goat of the Game:
Not gonna pick on McHugh, so All the Astro Bats besides Jose and Jon.
