Brad Peacock:
I felt great, to tell you the truth. I've got to find a way to get through the fifth inning. They got to me in the fifth. Hats off to them.
The 5th inning saw Peacock allow singles to Lucroy and Odor, a fielder's choice to Correa that didn't get anybody out loaded the bases before Peacock walked in the Rangers' 1st run of the game with two outs.
Hinch:
Peacock was exceptional. I thought he got a little unlucky at the end when a couple of calls didn't go his way. All-in-all, he had really good put-away pitches and did a really good job of getting to the middle part of the game.
*Unlucky at the end? You tell me:
If I'm the Astros, I'm furious about it. pic.twitter.com/Opz5hSVSxU— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) June 14, 2017
Related: I hate CB Bucknor.
*And Rougned Odor hit home runs accounting for three runs in consecutive innings: 7-8. In his career against Houston (221 ABs) Odor is hitting .299/.345/.611 with 15 home runs. In 166 ABs versus Houston's RHPs he's hitting .355/.386/.729 (just .127/.226/.255 in 55 ABs vs Houston LHPs. So maybe let a lefty throw against Odor?) Since the beginning of the 2015 season, Odor leads the Majors in SLG vs. Houston (.640).
*Odor's first home run, a solo shot to tie the game in the 7th, came off Chris Devenski. Devenski has now allowed an earned run in consecutive outings for the first time this season.
*Pause, in order to remind you that the Astros are 44-22, have won 2/3 of their games, and still have an 11-game lead in the division. And are 6-3 against the Rangers.
*Odor's 2nd home run, an inning later, came off of Luke Gregerson. After allowing 5ER in the early May series against the Rangers, Gregerson had rattled off 13 appearances (13.1IP) with 10H/2ER, 18K:5BB. Lefties are hitting .283/.340/.652 - five home runs allowed in 50 Plate Appearances. Also worth noting that while Gregerson has allowed a .554 OPS on the road, he's allowing a .333/.394/.667 slash line at Minute Maid Park. Gregerson is having a hard time getting the bottom of the order out (with obvious small sample and BABIP alerts): the 8-spot has a 1.255 OPS while the 9-spot has a 1.181. Matter of fact, five spots in the batting order have an OPS of 1.000+ against Gregerson so far this season. In five games versus the Rangers (21 PAs), they are hitting .444/.524/1.056.
So just to recap: don't throw Gregerson at home, against lefties, or the Rangers. Gregerson:
I just tried to get a pitch in on him, and it just kind of ran across the plate, stayed up, he got me in the Crawford Boxes. It's probably not [out] in most other parks, but unfortunately, it is here.
*The bullpen has thrown 46.1IP in June, 2nd-most in the AL.
*The Astros got solo home runs from George Springer (his 18th), and Carlos Correa (his 12th). Springer is the 1st player since Brady Anderson (1996) to have seven leadoff homers through June 13.
*The Astros are 5-11 when collecting seven or fewer hits.
*Hinch, on Rangers starting pitcher Nick Martinez:
We couldn't find enough hits against Martinez. He did a really good job of moving his pitches around. Movement in his ball was moving down...It was not our night against him.
It hasn't been the Astros night a fair amount, lately.
*Josh Reddick is still going through concussion protocol. Hinch:
The reason we're not putting him on (the DL) right now is because there's a decent chance he'll be back in a few days as opposed to having to have him be out a week.
Related: Jeff Luhnow said Derek Fisher is ready for the Majors. Fisher is hitting .335/.401/.608 for Fresno this season. Now, to just find a spot for him...
WAIT. KHOU's Jason Bristol is saying the Astros will call up Fisher today.
*The Astros are being "very conservative" with Dallas Keuchel.
*Lance McCullers said his lower back is tight and stiff, and the DL is to help that and his arm.
*Corpus was swept by Midland and are eliminated from 1st Half title contention.
*Buies Creek put four players on the Carolina League All-Star roster: pitchers Franklin Perez, Nick Hernandez, Yoanys Quiala, and outfielder Myles Straw.
Draft Updates
*2nd Round pick Corbin Martin is pumped about getting drafted, but is focused on the College World Series and won't start negotiations until A&M's run is over. But:
I was more excited about the Astros picking me than where I got picked in the draft.
*75th overall pick JJ Matijevic, on getting drafted:
Just pure happiness. When it was called, everybody just went crazy...Tears. It was pretty awesome.
He'll sign, but it will come down to money:
I'm ready to go. They know I'm ready to go. We've just got to come to terms.
*The Astros are pretty excited about 6th Round pick Jake Adams' power. Mike Elias:
We think he's for real. If you dig up his junior college numbers, he hit a ton of home runs at that level, too. Our scouts liked him, and we're going to see if his power plays in professional baseball.
Great quote from Adams:
They have me at 6'2" 250, and they think I'm slow, but I'm actually 230 and can run pretty good.
*Adams will sign. His dad:
You know this is probably the best case scenario - you got to take, take the leap of faith and go.
*Check our quick write-ups on the draftees from yesterday:
3rd Round: Tyler Ivey
4th Round: Peter Solomon
5th Round: Nate Perry
6th Round: Jake Adams
7th Round: Parker Mushinski
8th Round: Corey Julks
9th Round: Mike Papierski
10th Round: Kyle Serrano
*Stay on top of the draft pick signings over here.
