*The Astros scored 12 runs on 17 hits. The twelve runs are the 3rd-highest for the Astros in 2018. The 17 hits are the 2nd-highest total of the season. Last night the Astros got seven extra-base hits (five doubles, two home runs) - it's the 6th time this season that Houston got at least seven extra-base hits. They're the second team in MLB to 60 wins.
*Game Number for the Astros' 60th win:
2018: 91
2017: 89
2016: 115
2015: 106
2014: 139
2013: Folks,
2012: I mean
2011: Well
2010: 131
2009: 122
2008: 119
2007: 134
2006: 127
2005: 112
2004: 120
2003: 111
2002: 115
2001: 109
2000: 140
1999: 100
1998: 101
*Houston has scored 27 runs in three games against the White Sox. They scored 24 runs in their previous seven games.
*Josh Reddick was the only member of the lineup to not get on base at least twice. Bregman and Stassi had three hits each.
*Alex Bregman hit his 17th home run of the season in his 399th plate appearance of the season. He hit 19 home runs in 2017, and his 17th home run in his 612th plate appearance of 2017. Bregs:
I think we're swinging the bats well. I think we're playing good baseball, and I think our pitching staff is throwing the ball really well, and offensively we've done a good job of passing the baton to the next guy, and if we continue to do that, we'll be successful.
Turn up the volume ...— Matt Young (@Chron_MattYoung) July 7, 2018
Geoff Blum: “Good spot for a homer.”
<Bregman blast>
Todd Kalas: “Really?”
Blum: “You’re welcome.” pic.twitter.com/t6KL1p70MO
*Via the previous link from McTaggart, Jose Altuve is nine hits shy of his own record for hits before the All-Star Break.
*Yuli Gurriel was 2x4 with a home run and a walk and 4RBI. In his last five games, Yuli has raised his OPS from .727 to .775.
*Maximus Stassi was 3x5 with 2RBI. His three hits in a game are a career-high.
*George Springer stole his first base since June 16. He's stolen six bases in his last seven attempts dating back to May 9.
*Kyle Tucker was 1x4 with 3K and a walk so why was Jake Marisnick even optioned. I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm trying to delete it. Tucker:
It was awesome. I had a lot of fun tonight and we came up with the win, so that makes it even better. Just being in the big leagues is awesome, especially this team.
Jake Kaplan: Why now's the right time to promote Tucker.
Luhnow, on Tucker's promotion:
When you have a top guy like that and you're blocking him for reasons other than the fact that he's not ready, you have to question whether you're doing the right thing for the organization. We want him to get exposure this year and to answer the question whether he's a guy that should be in our lineup game one of the postseason.
Tucker's promotion and Marisnick's demotion says a lot about Tony Kemp, writes Chandler Rome. On Kemp, Luhnow:
It didn't affect when we were going to call up Kyle Tucker, but it did affect the move we were going to make to clear space for him. Tony has come up and played well.
MLB.com's Jim Callis, on what to expect from Tucker.
*Charlie Morton threw 5.2IP, 5H/5ER, 8K:2BB - the most ER CFM has allowed since June 3. Charlie F. Morton's starts with 0ER allowed: 5
Charlie F. Morton's starts with 4+ ER allowed: 3
Hinch:
I feel bad for Charlie because he got a little nickel and dimed at the end with a few soft hits and an ill-timed walk and then a well-placed, bases-clearing double. I thought his stuff was really good at the end. That saying that he pitched better than the line indicates, that's going to be the day today. Still a winning pitcher, still a guy that gave us a chance to win.
CFM's last three starts: 19.1IP, 32K:6BB. Morton has now gone six straight starts (35IP) without allowing a home run. His career-high without allowing a home run is eleven straight starts (64IP)- from April 20 through June 20, 2011.
*Ken Giles allowed a home run to Avisail Garcia in the 8th. It's the 2nd home run he's allowed in 2018, first since May 1 against the Yankees (the Right Cross game), a span of 83 batters.
*The bullpen needed 46 pitches to get through 3.1IP to close out the game.
*Hunter Atkins: In light of Verlander approaching 200 wins, is 300 even possible anymore?
*The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo writes that the Astros have shown interest in Chicago's Jose Abreu, saying that he's a better offensive option than Gurriel and Gattis.
*NW Arkansas outhit Corpus 6-5 but lost 4-0. Corbin Martin threw 5IP, 4H/0ER, 3K:0BB and Framber Valdez followed him up with 4IP, 2H/0ER, 6K:1BB. DH Ryne Birk was 0x1 with 3BB.
*Brett Adcock did the damn thing with 5IP, 1H/0ER, 3K:1BB but Hector Perez allowed 3H/3ER, 2K:3BB in a 4-2 loss to Myrtle Beach. Adcock's last two starts: 10IP, 2H/0ER, 4K:3BB.
*Cesar Rosado's line for Quad Cities: 6.1IP, 3H/2ER, 12K:3BB, WP, HBP, in a 6-4 loss to Burlington. Seth Beer was 3x5 with an RBI to raise his average to .412. It's okay. He was the only batter in Quad Cities' lineup hitting over .258.
*In a got dang Circle of Life thing, to make room for Jon Kemmer the Twins released cHRis Carter.
*For sure, man: Robinson Cano compares his 80-game PED suspension to his grandfather's death.
*Representative Jim Jordan is a piece of crap. Oh, so is convicted felon Dinesh D'Souza.
*Baltimore Baseball's Jack Gibbons, on slain reporter Rob Hiassen, whose brother wrote many novels which I have enjoyed.