I didn't watch a minute of this game, but once again the Astros struggled to get anything going against a team with legitimately the worst pitching staff in all of baseball. It's a game that, if you're an Orioles fan, gives you Hope and makes you think that Baseball is actually worth it, at least for another week. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde:
Our guys have a ton of heart. We've been playing tough games and having tough losses. To play in a game like that and pull away was awesome.
Hinch:
We couldn't get anything started. We couldn't get the ball off the ground against Cashner and then we just never got the break. Yuli misses the homer by a foot and then we get doubled off.
Here's how I imagine the rest of that interview with Hinch going...
HINCH: That's a [giggles] good team over there. Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other team [punches hole in wall].
*Framber Valdez pitched well: 7IP, 5H/0ER, 7K:0BB and in only 84 pitches. Good for him for giving the bullpen a rest. Valdez:
This opportunity was a privilege, and to be able to take advantage of this opportunity when it presented itself, I'm very happy about that and I want to keep doing what I'm doing.
*Reymin Guduan did not pitch well: 1IP, 1H/2ER, 2K:1BB. He has a 14.54 ERA, but it's not like it's fluky, because his FIP is 12.61. Guduan has faced 24 batters in 2019, 11 of them have reached base and have a 1.353 OPS. Don't put Reymin Guduan in any more close games.
*The "offense" had four hits - all singles. It's the fourth time this season that the Astros have not gotten an extra-base hit. They're 0-4 and have scored a total of two runs in those games. It's only the second time this season Baltimore has thrown a game in which they didn't give up an extra-base hit.
*Shoutout to Josh Reddick, one of those singles was his 1000th career hit. Here's where the rest of the Astros stand on the career hits leaderboard:
Altuve: 1454
Brantley: 1273
Springer: 699
Correa: 551
Bregman: 445
Gurriel: 408
Marisnick: 348
White: 157
This is a reminder for everyone out there who is told that they will never make it or accomplish their goals. Don’t let ANYONE tell you you’re not good enough or that you can’t do it. I’m a living example the you… https://t.co/OYJ4ObrSsn— Mr. Irrelevant (@RealJoshReddick) June 9, 2019
*Word around the campfire is that the Astros are calling up Yordan Alvarez. The Astros don't do knee-jerk reactions, so I doubt that a listless performance against Andrew F. Cashner was the catalyst behind the call-up, but how flat the offense has been in the last few games probably played at least a small role. The move has not been confirmed, though the Astros would have to clear a spot on the 40-Man Roster. The easiest two ways to do that:
-DFA somebody.
-Transfer McCullers to the 60-Day IL.
*Jose Altuve "ran the bases vigorously" prior to yesterday's game.
*Drew Ferguson became the 2nd Round Rock player ever to get six hits in a game, in a 19-5 win over Salt Lake City. Matt Harvey sucks.
*A Musical Selection:
