*The Astros won the dumbest game of the year last night, 11-8 against Oakland. After taking a 4-1 lead after two innings, David Paulino gave up four runs in the top of the 3rd before the Astros answered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning. Oakland scored again in the 4th, 5th, and 7th innings and ended up with five home runs. Houston has allowed 5HR twice this season, and is 2-0 - the first coming on May 2 in an 8-7 win against the Rangers.
*David Paulino has made six starts for the Astros and has failed to get 13 outs in three of them. Eight of the twelve outs he recorded last night were strikeouts, but four of the seven hits he allowed were home runs. His last three starts: 15.1IP, 17H/11ER, 18K:3BB.
*The bullpen of Feliz, Sipp, Harris, Gregerson, and Giles threw 5IP, 1H/1ER, 9K:1BB. This is great, but I think we're all ready for a starter to go 7IP once in a while.
*Since taking the June 13 loss to the South Frisco Rangers, Gregerson: 6 appearances, 5.1IP, 3H/0ER, 6K:1BB.
*Five of the Astros' runs came with two outs.
*George Springer hit his 9th leadoff home run of the season (off of attempted murderer Jesse Hahn, who hit Springer on the hand the last time they faced each other to open a game) breaking the franchise record. He needs five more leadoff home runs to break Alfonso Soriano's MLB record. His 24 home runs before the All-Star Break tied Lance Berkman's 2006 franchise record. If Springer can get two more home runs in the next two games, he'll tie the Astros' franchise record for home runs in a calendar month (Bagwell, June 1994).
*Jesse Hahn in three starts against Houston this season: 10IP, 23H/18ER, 7K:3BB. Hahn's ERA before facing Houston in his last two starts: 3.56. Hahn's ERA now: 5.30.
*Springer and Reddick (2SB) combined for a 6x8, 5RBI night. Altuve, Correa, McCann, and Gurriel had two hits each.
Springer, June: .337/.414/.755.
Reddick, since coming off the DL: .526/.524/1.053 (none of that is a typo).
Reddick:
It's a dangerous lineup. Springer starting us off with yet another leadoff homer, and setting the tone early. You got a real glimpse at how good our lineup can be when everybody is swinging the bats well and clicking on the right level.
Reddick vs LHP, 2016: .155/.212/.155
Reddick vs LHP, 2017: .324/.368/.353
*Altuve has hit .348/.435/.576 in June. He was the first Astro since Astros Great Eric Bruntlett (9/18/2005) to have two hits, two walks, and two steals in a single game.
*Houston's offense struck out four times last night, the 15th time they've struck out four or fewer times this season. The 2013 Astros had seven of those games for the entire season.
*The Rangers and Mariners lost, the Angels won. Houston's division lead is 12.5 games with 83 games to play.
*After Charlie Morton threw 4IP in his latest rehab start, he threw 15 more pitches in the bullpen. The Astros are trying to figure out what his next move is. Hinch:
We'll wait to see if he feels great. But a very encouraging sign that he could have an outing like that.
Morton thinks he can pitch against the Yankees on Sunday.
*Derek Fisher and Colin Moran are Fresno's representatives in the Triple-A All-Star Game.
*Framber Valdez's line from last night's Buies Creek game: 8IP, 3H/1ER, 11K:2BB. #CallAMup
*Before last night's game between Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh, umpire John Tumpane saved a woman's life on the Roberto Clemente Bridge.
*Check out Ben Revere's bottom of the 9th in the Angels' 3-2 win over the Dodgers: Reached on an error, took 2nd on a wild pitch, passed ball on a strikeout, throwing error. A walk-off strikeout.
*Vice: RIP Anthony Young.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
