I thoroughly enjoyed the last few days of Houston sports. Rockets are going to the Western Conference Finals and the Astros handled their business.
Game 1- Keuchel vs Anderson
If you missed this game, I am so sorry because this was a fun one. Well, for the Astros and their fans anyway. Dallas Keuchel had a very good night getting through 8 innings, allowing only 1 ER and was flashing that Gold Glove per usual. At the top of the first with the Astros already up 2-0, Alex Bregman tried to get the obstruction call (sound familiar?) as he got caught in a run down between 3rd base and home plate and it was a pretty funny sight. Even Bregman had a big smile on his face walking back to the dugout. The Astros had a lot of reasons to smile the remaining 8.5 innings:
- All of the starting 9 had hits.
- Marwin Gonzalez went 3 for 6 with 5 RBI's
- Max Stassi tagged Chad Pinder at home plate after a throw from Gonzalez for the final out at the bottom of the 8th.
- 3 Astros each had one home run: Derek Fisher with a solo, Gonzalez with a 2 run, and George Springer a 3 run that went 462ft.
Speaking of Springer, this was his night. Springer went 6 for 6, making him the first Astro ever to have 6 hits in a 9 inning game. The only other Astro to have 6 hits in one game was Joe Morgan in 1965 and he needed 12 innings to get there.
Game 2- McCullers vs Manaea
Lance McCullers got pretty high up in the pitch count by the end of the 5th and continued to have a little difficulty locating his curve ball but still got the W. Brad Peacock and Chris Devenski were able to keep the A's from scoring anymore runs & Ken Giles came in at the bottom of the 9th to close for the first time in a week and shut the game down with just 12 pitches. For the 2nd night in a row, the entire starting nine made contact, INCLUDING Jake Marisnick, and Alex Bregman hit his 3rd home run of the season. The Astros win 4-2.
Game 3- Cole vs Mengden
For only the 3rd time this season, Gerrit Cole struck out less than 10 batters. He struck out 9. That probably has to do with the fact that he was already up to 101 pitches by the end of the 6th. Top of the 7th, Max "Saucy" Stassi & Derek Fisher went back to back with home runs getting the Astros on the board and then putting them ahead making the score 2-1. Yuli Gurriel hit a two run double at the top of the 8th bringing in George Springer and Jose Altuve to make the score 4-1 which is where the score would stay.
It's a sweep! For the 3rd time this season the Astros sweep the series. In series sweeps, the Astros have outscored their opponent 70-16. So the Astros should probably just start getting a lot of runs. Just my opinion.
Up next: The Ramgers in H-Town, which will be covered by ClintShane.
Series W-L: 7-5
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
