Brad Peacock (3-8, 5.47) vs Carlos Carrasco (5-4, 3.27)
This is the very frustrating kind of ballgame to lose; TOOTBLANs on offense and errors on defense at crucial junctures gave the game away. Fortunate for Houston, then, that they were on the receiving end of the benefits from those mistakes. The Astros only managed three hits, and Brad Peacock was forced from the game with a forearm issue after five, but by Cleveland's generosity (and four unearned runs in the 9th), they win anyway on a 5-1 final. Houston improves to 11-9 in August and 55-74 overall.
On the Mound:
*The one dark spot remaining from this game, even with the win, is concern over Brad Peacock's injury. No, he hasn't always been particularly effective this season, but today he was very much so, turning in a 5 IP / 2 H / 1 R / 1 ER / 0 BB / 4 K line before he came out to begin the 6th. But discomfort in his forearm during warmup pitches ended his night early just as it seemed he had everything figured out. Here's to his health and hoping that he'll be back and dealing like this again on schedule.
*Kevin Chapman got the emergency call from the bullpen when Peacock couldn't continue, and he rose to the occasion, facing five batters and retiring four (1 K), with the only baserunner reaching on a fielding error by Jose Altuve.
*Josh Fields allowed a single in between a pair of strikeouts to end the 7th.
*Tony Sipp faced the minimum (and earned the win) for a bizarre but scoreless 8th inning. A Mike Aviles leadoff single put one runner on. A Tyler Holt sac bunt to Sipp resulted in a safe call at second, which put two runners on. Then Aviles was picked off and caught stealing third in a rundown, during which Holt moved up to second. Then Holt attempted stealing third, and he was caught too. Then Roberto Perez struck out to end the oddities.
*After Cleveland continued to harpoon themselves in the 9th, Chad Qualls took over and started with old friend Michael Bourn reaching on a Matt Dominguez error. A Jose Ramirez single pushed Bourn ahead to second, but then Chad got Michael Brantley on a F7, and Marwin Gonzalez turned a slick double play on Carlos Santana's grounder to end it.
At the Plate:
*Very, very little offense before the 9th. Pretty much only Marwin, actually, as his solo HR (6) leading off the 5th accounted for Houston's only earned run of the night. He later reached on a fielder's choice and scored again, finishing 1x4.
*Jon Homerton had the single biggest swing of the night, and all of Houston's other RBIs, on a 3-run blast to left in the 9th. It was Jonathan's 12th home run of the season, and he ended up 1x4 with 2 K.
*Jake Marisnick had the Astros' only other hit - an infield single in the 3rd - and he finished 1x3 with a K.
*Gregorio Petit never came to the plate, but he pinch ran for Chris Carter in the 9th and scored the winning run on an error - more on that to come.
*Carter (0x2, 2 BB, K), Jose Altuve (0x3, BB), and Jason Castro (0x3, BB, R, 3 K) also notched walks for the Astros. Dexter Fowler was 0x4, but reached on an error and stole a base.
Turning Point:
After Cleveland (literally) ran into trouble in the 8th, they gift-wrapped the game for Houston in the 9th. It started innocently enough, as Jose Altuve grounded to short. Chris Carter walked. Then the fun really began, as Dexter Fowler reached on a Carlos Santana throwing error and Carter chugged around to third. With the score still 1-1, Gregorio Petit pinch ran for Carter, and with Jason Castro batting, Fowler took off to steal second. But Cleveland catcher Roberto Perez threw the ball away, letting Petit scamper home and Fowler move on to third. Castro walked, then Marwin Gonzalez grounded to short, but Fowler was called out at home on a fielder's choice as the Indians finally got the second out. Then Jonathan Singleton put the exclamation point on the inning with a 3-run HR on a 3-2 count.
Man of the Match:
Brad Peacock. Come back soon, Bradley, me boy.
Goat of the Game:
Matt Dominguez. 0x4 with a K, and a fielding error to boot.
