*Depending on your viewpoint, Brad Peacock either had a rough start or Brad Peacock finally turned back into Brad Peacock. The Angels scored in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th innings in a 9-4 win over the Astros. Cameron Maybin returned from the DL and had three hits and four steals - the most steals against the Astros since the Blue Jays stole five bases on June 6, 2015.
*There are exactly 100 games remaining on the schedule. The Astros have a 12-game lead on the Angels and Mariners.
Peacock only lasted 3IP, allowing 7H/4ER, 1K:4BB. Frankie Tuesday made his Major-League debut and allowed 4H/4ER, 2K:2BB, WP, HBP in 3.2IP. Tony Sipp needed nine pitches to get the final four outs of the game.
*Hinch:
It was not our night on the mound. It felt like they had someone on base virtually every inning, and they put a lot of pressure on us. We didn't execute the pitches we needed to and they had traffic on the bases all night. There was never really a comfortable inning.
Martes, who was not fazed:
To be in for the first time was good. The plan was for me to go out there and save the bullpen, go three or four innings, and that's what I did. So that gives me a lot of confidence for (the) next time I go out there.
*The Astros had a good shot at tying the game or even taking the lead, but Bregman overran 3rd base and was thrown out to end the 2nd inning. Hinch:
It looked like (Bregman) was late picking up Gary Pettis. Gary was holding him. From every angle, outside of Bregman, who was running away from the ball, you could see that Simmons was going to make the play...When you're behind and working your way back, it was a bad mistake.
*Bregman would later hit a 2-run homer in the 7th. Despite getting a hit in 42 of his 59 appearances, Bregman is hitting .251/.320/.411. In his last ten starts he's hitting .256/.333/.564 with four home runs, 5K:5BB.
*The Astros have hit at least one home run in 17 straight games, one shy of the franchise record set in 2000.
*Charlie Morton began his throwing program, but that doesn't mean he's on track to appear anytime soon. Morton:
From the onset, I don't know if there was really a set timetable. I think it's just based on feedback they're getting from me and feedback I'm getting from my arm. But I feel good. Pleasantly surprised.
*On other injury fronts, Joe Musgrove is ready to start Monday and - on a more concerning side - Dallas Keuchel still has not been made available to the media and, as of pre-game yesterday, Hinch had not even talked to him. Hinch:
He's going to continue his rest and recovery, so there's not a ton more to update. He's not doing anything other than resting and seeing our doctors. The 10-Day DL will be the full 10 days, so there's not going to be a daily update.
Okay, how about any update?
*Brian McCann's last four games: 8x16, 2HR, 2 2B, 2K:0BB.
*Washington Post's Dave Sheinin: It took a lot of losing for the Astros to do this much winning. Luhnow, on "tanking":
I don't like that word, because it suggests you're trying to lose and I can tell you there is nothing further from the truth...Our goal was and always will be to build a championship team and sustain it as long as possible. And the best path to get there was by focusing on young players and using the draft and other means to acquire them. And to do that, we had to trade away some veterans, who frankly weren't helping us win that much, anyway.
*There were 40,786 fans at Minute Maid Park last night, the first 40,000+ attendance game not in a home opener/Opening Day since August 6, 2016 against the Rangers.
*FanRag: How long can the Astros keep winning?
*Beyond the Box Score: Nolan Ryan is the greatest pitcher ever.
*Let's give a shoutout to 19-year old Quad Cities 1B/OF/DH Yordan Alvarez. In his first 23 games of the season (99 PAs), he's hitting .378/.465/.634, with 26K:15BB.
*Possible trade candidate Tony Watson was removed from the Pirates' closer role
*David Price got into it with Evan Drellich and it may affect his tenure in Boston.
*The Cardinals are trying not to fall apart.
*How Friends triggered the downfall of western civilization.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
