Happy Friday my friends! No game recap since the Astros were off but the good news is somehow the Orioles managed to play nine innings of baseball and have more run than the opposing Oakland Athletics team. The Astros are now 3.5 up with 5 series and 16 games left to play (ARI, SEA, LAA, TOR, and a 4 game series with BAL).
Speaking of the Diamondbacks-Astros series, here is a Bob Nightengale throwback article floating the idea of this being the 2018 World Series. A quick series preview of this weekend can be found here.
Thursday, September 20th is the last Astros off day of the regular season.
Brian Arbour, fellow member of the Astros County staff, wrote about how the bullpen on this road trip was utilized and what it may mean for September.
Preston Tucker, Jack Mayfield, and Drew Ferguson all went yard to help Fresno win Game 2 of the PCL Championship. Game 3 is tonight with the series at 1-1.
You can purchase a ticket to the Astros @ Orioles game Thursday, September 27th for $3.
Jess Kleinschmidt attempts to stare into the souls of every Astros player during their stares.
The Astros pitching staff is returning to form again. Watch out.
The Astros: 2013 vs. 2018.
Once again, pitchers acquired by the Astros are amazing. MK Bower talks just how amazing Pressly and Osuna have been and how they got this way.
The Astros have promoted Brandon Taubman to Assistant General Manager.
Some Astros crashed Joe Smith's private charity event for a good cause.
The folks on SI Now predict who wins the 7 game series between Boston and Houston.
Monday is the fifth World Series ring giveaway of the season. I still need one just floating it out there.
David Wright is giving it one last go September 29th.
Blake Snell is nails in 2018.
Domino's may have offered to give away too many free pizzas.
On This Day in Baseball History
In 1951, Bob Nieman became the first player in history to hit two consecutive home runs in his first two Major League at-bats.
In 1969, the Orioles clinched their first AL East title in their history.
In 1986, Bo Jackson hit his first Major League home run.
Also in 1986, Giants third baseman Bob Brenly committed four errors in one inning and hit two home runs, one of which was the walkoff.
In 1990, Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. became the first father-son duo to hit home runs in the same game.
In 1994, MLB team owners voted to cancel the MLB playoffs, becoming the first time a major professional sport cancelled its postseason.
In 1999, the Astros set a club record with its 12th straight win. Shane Reynolds got the win.
In 2003, Vladimir Guerrero hit for the cycle.
In 2005, Roger Clemens pitched hours after his mother passed away from emphysema complications. The Astros went on to win the game 10-2.
In 2014, Jonathan Papelbon was ejected after blowing the save and giving the home crowd the 'ol crotch grab.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith