*McCullers: 4.IP, 6H/7ER, 2K:2BB. Five of the six hits were for extra-bases - a career-high. He had allowed three home runs through his first ten starts of 2018, and allowed three home runs last night, breaking a six-start/47IP stretch without allowing a home run. McCullers went eight starts between home runs in 2017.
He also managed to get yelled at by Jose Altuve after expressing displeasure at Gurriel's inability to dig a throw out of the dirt.
Jose Altuve was not happy with Lance McCullers... pic.twitter.com/EHduKBD1tF— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) May 27, 2018
McCullers:
In the second inning, I was real immature, and I let emotion get the best of me. I showed my frustration. Altuve was letting me know that we're beyond that. I'm not 21 anymore. I've been around enough - this is my fourth season with the team.
*Jose Altuve went 4x4 with two singles, a triple, and a home run. It was the 27th 4-hit game of his career, and third of 2018.
*Tony Kemp hit the second home run of his career - his first coming on September 25, 2016.
*Collin McHugh threw yet another scoreless inning, giving him 14 straight appearances (18.1IP) without allowing a run.
*The Astros are going to try to get Marwin some time in Right Field.
*Hinch, on J.D. Davis' limited playing time:
Just because you're doing something in AAA doesn't mean you fit perfectly in the everyday lineup in the big leagues, but he still deserves to be here. For J.D. it's tough because where he places in a batting order can be a little redundant with some of the guys that we have, which is why we sent him down to begin with.
*Oliver Drake, who allowed 5H/6ER on Friday night, got DFA'd. Stros stay gettin dudes fired. Andrew Miller, who allowed 2H/3ER with a walk on Friday, was put back on the DL
*David Paulino is back on the DL for Fresno.
That smile won’t go away for a while. Had the time of my life putting the uni back on!! So grateful for this game. Oh yeah, 1-2, 1B RBI, BB; 3 assists & started a DP. #NeverSettle #HOFClassic https://t.co/AaVvazcvgh— Geoff Blum (@blummer27) May 26, 2018
*Tyler Bauer has made seven starts against the Astros in his career. His line: 43.2IP, 31H/14ER, 55K:16BB - a 2.89 ERA / 1.08 WHIP - and a 7-0 record. Houston is the only team against whom he's made 6+ starts and not taken an L. Let's change that today.
*Down at Corpus, Myles Straw went 5x5 with three runs scored and his 31st stolen base of the season. He ranks 1st in the Texas League in hits and runs, 2nd in batting average, and 3rd in OBP. Corpus won 7-2. Here are the batting averages of the first four hitters in the Hooks lineup last night:
Myles Straw: .362
Josh Rojas: .360
Taylor Jones: .346
Randy Cesar: .367
*Quad Cities' Cristian Javier last night: 6IP, 1H/0ER, 9K:0BB. Javier's 2018 season: 39IP, 24H/8ER, 65K:19BB. His last four starts: 19IP, 8H/2ER, 35K:6BB.
*Seattle is 15-8 in 1-run games, with four walk-off wins including yesterday. Seattle's reckoning could come June 14-24 when they have ten games with Boston at home, then New York and Boston again on the road.
*In The Athletic, Cliff Corcoran introduces the Quality Appearance stat for relievers.
*I stumbled on this through Keith Law's weekly link roundup, so here's a 2017 SABR article about how much luck plays into year-to-year stats.
*From The Undefeated: Hakeem's greatest Ramadan performances.
*"It's just a system that has so many gaps, so many opportunities for these children to fall between the cracks, that we just don't know what's going on - how much trafficking or abuse or simply immigration law violations are occurring."
*This deserves a Pulitzer.
