*The Astros put up a Big Inning for the first time this season and trounced the A's, 6-0. A pair of 2-run jacks from George Springer and Michael Brantley put the game away. Houston is 4-5.
*Houston has allowed 24 runs through their first nine games, 3rd-lowest in MLB behind Tampa Bay (19) and Pittsburgh (21). Just like we all predicted.
*The six runs are a season high for a game, and the 4-run 5th was the biggest inning of the season so far. A's manager Bob Melvin:
We're struggling a little bit. This can be a tough place for us to play sometimes. When you look at their staff, all the way down, it doesn't matter who they run out there.
*Houston has won four of their last five vs Oakland, dating back to last season. The Astros are 14-7 vs the A's since the beginning of 2018.
*Brantley broke his 0x17 with a bunt single and then later hit a 2-run jack. His four consecutive 0x4s were a career high. Hinch:
Good for him and good for us. He's hitting in the middle of the order because of how good his at-bats are...The at-bats have been good, the results have not been great up until this point, but his demeanor has been the same. It doesn't surprise me that he got a pitch to hit and did some damage.
*Jake Marisnick drew a walk that set up Springer's home run. It was his first walk since Opening Day, and his 2nd BB of the year. He did not draw his second walk of the 2018 season until his 113th PA.
*Yuli Gurriel's first eight games: 2 hits.
Yuli Gurriel last night: 3 hits - all doubles, a career-high.
*6-9 in the lineup (Gurriel, Reddick, Chirinos, Marisnick) went a combined 5x14 with 3K:2BB (and 1x7 w/RISP).
*Jose Altuve was 0x4 for the 3rd time this season and hitless for the 4th time this season. It took 25 games in 2018 for Altuve to go hitless four times.
*Wade Miley became the first Astros SP of 2019 to throw a scoreless outing, going 5.2IP, 4H/0ER, 4K:2BB.
Miley vs Oakland, career: 6GS, 38.2IP, 29H/6ER, 26K:17BB. Miley, on Chirinos:
Chirinos was outstanding back there. He made me believe that I can get people out with changeups and curveballs, so that was fun. It was definitely fun working with him.
*McTaggart has three takeaways from the first series-clinching win of the season.
*Michael Brantley and his father have a tight bond over baseball.
*Yordan Alvarez went 3x3 with three home runs and a walk last night for Round Rock. It's not a bad night. He's the first Round Rock player to hit 3HR in a game since Joey Gallo in 2015. This "sharing history with the Ramgers" thing is not pleasing to me.
*Brian McCann is on the Injured List with a jacked up hamstring.
*Leeds United crapped the bed.
*This is your brain on silence.
*A Musical Selection:
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
