Dallas Keuchel (10-7, 2.97) vs Kyle Kendrick (5-11, 4.92)
One qualification to that "pitching well" observation: Even when you pitch well, you still need at least some offense to win. Pitching was no problem for the Astros tonight, as they held the Phillies scoreless from the 2nd through the 14th, and allowed only one run through 14.2. But the Philadelphia staff held Houston to just one run through 15 innings, so they were just a touch better (or Houston's offense was just a touch worse). Phillies beat the Astros 2-1 in 15 innings, and Houston drops to 47-66 overall.
On the Mound:
*Dallas Keuchel is back (but we knew that already). For the third straight start, Kid Keuchy went at least 7 innings and gave up no more than 2 runs. Today only a solo Ryan Howard home run marred his line, and Keuchel turned in a 7 IP / 5 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 1 BB / 5 K evening before being lifted for this novelty of a pinch-hitter.
*Tony Sipp had an interesting 8th, allowing a single and a walk (plus a passed ball by Jason Castro) to put two on with one out in a 1-1 tie game. But Tony got Ryan Howard to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, escaping the frame unscathed.
*Josh Fields had a blessedly boring 9th, retiring all three Phillies in order.
*Darin Downs nearly had a perfect 10th, save for a two-out fielding error by Matt Dominguez that allowed Ben Revere to reach. Revere went nowhere, though, as Jimmy Rollins lined to center for out #3. In the 11th, Downs got a fly out to start, then hit Ryan Howard with a pitch before being lifted.
*Jose Veras got a K and a groundout to end the 11th.
*Then Jake Buchanan got the long-term call. He deserves credit, as well, holding the Phillies to just a single and a walk in the 12th through 14th, but someone finally had to score. Unfortunately for Jake, that someone was not the Astros. Two singles, an IBB, and a sac bunt added up to a two-out run in the 15th, and the yeoman effort of Houston's entire staff went to naught.
*Tony Sipp had an interesting 8th, allowing a single and a walk (plus a passed ball by Jason Castro) to put two on with one out in a 1-1 tie game. But Tony got Ryan Howard to ground into a 4-6-3 double play, escaping the frame unscathed.
*Josh Fields had a blessedly boring 9th, retiring all three Phillies in order.
*Darin Downs nearly had a perfect 10th, save for a two-out fielding error by Matt Dominguez that allowed Ben Revere to reach. Revere went nowhere, though, as Jimmy Rollins lined to center for out #3. In the 11th, Downs got a fly out to start, then hit Ryan Howard with a pitch before being lifted.
*Jose Veras got a K and a groundout to end the 11th.
*Then Jake Buchanan got the long-term call. He deserves credit, as well, holding the Phillies to just a single and a walk in the 12th through 14th, but someone finally had to score. Unfortunately for Jake, that someone was not the Astros. Two singles, an IBB, and a sac bunt added up to a two-out run in the 15th, and the yeoman effort of Houston's entire staff went to naught.
At the Plate:
*With a 1-1 game into the 15th inning, obviously there's not much offense of which to speak. No extra base hits, and no Astro had more than one hit to his name.
*Jonathan Singleton got Houston on the board in the 7th with a RBI single, finishing 1x5 with a BB and 3 K.
*Chris Carter was 0x5 with 2 K, but scored that run in the 7th following a leadoff walk.
*It took until the 10th inning, but Jose Altuve kept his four-game mini-streak alive, finishing 1x6 with a SB and a K. His 10th-inning single was also Houston's last hit of the night.
*Robbie Grossman went 1x5 with a BB and a CS.
*Jason Castro was 1x6 with 2 K.
*Besides his inconsequential error, Matt Dominguez went 1x6 with 2 K.
*Marwin Gonzalez was 1x5 with a BB and a K.
*Domingo Santana is still 0-for-MLB, but he did record his first big league walk as a pinch-hitter in the 10th.
*Jonathan Singleton got Houston on the board in the 7th with a RBI single, finishing 1x5 with a BB and 3 K.
*Chris Carter was 0x5 with 2 K, but scored that run in the 7th following a leadoff walk.
*It took until the 10th inning, but Jose Altuve kept his four-game mini-streak alive, finishing 1x6 with a SB and a K. His 10th-inning single was also Houston's last hit of the night.
*Robbie Grossman went 1x5 with a BB and a CS.
*Jason Castro was 1x6 with 2 K.
*Besides his inconsequential error, Matt Dominguez went 1x6 with 2 K.
*Marwin Gonzalez was 1x5 with a BB and a K.
*Domingo Santana is still 0-for-MLB, but he did record his first big league walk as a pinch-hitter in the 10th.
Turning Point:
After three scoreless innings (and an AB of his own), Jake Buchanan started the 15th by allowing a single to Grady Sizemore. Ben Revere sac bunted Sizemore up to second, then Buchanan got Jimmy Rollins to fly out to center for out #2 (also holding Revere at second). With first base open, Chase Utley was given an intentional pass, bringing up the only man to create a run for Philadelphia all night - Ryan Howard. On a 1-2 pitch, Howard laced the ball into right field, which Robbie Grossman scooped up on the bounce and fired home. But the throw was offline, and too late anyway, as Ben Revere slid home with the winning run.
Man of the Match:
Dallas Keuchel, and the rest of the Astros pitching staff too.
Goat of the Game:
Jake Marisnick. 0x6 with 2 K, and now 2x17 with Houston.
