*It's the 7th shutout of the year for Astros pitchers, and the first since June 9.
*Houston is 25-7 against the AL West. They're 16-4 in their last 20 games against divisional opponents.
*Gerrit Cole threw 7IP, 3H/0ER, 9K:2BB and obviously did not allow a home run. It's the 7th time in his career - and 2nd time this season - that Cole has thrown seven scoreless innings. Cole has allowed one home run in his last 20IP.
Since allowing 6ER to the White Sox on May 22 (8 starts): 51IP, 35H/12R (10ER), 70K:13BB, 1.76 ERA / 0.94 WHIP. Only Max Scherzer has thrown 30+ IP and has a better ERA in that time frame.
Cole's 110th and final pitch of the night was 101.1mph, the fastest pitch by any starter this season. Hinch:
Exceptional across the board, from intensity to execution to game planning. I could nitpick in that there was a walk or two in there, but what a great day for him to shoulder the workload and come out of it with seven scoreless innings...He was just so creative and so good.
Bregman, on Cole:
He's so fun to play behind. Especially when I get to play shortstop, I get to see the break on his pitches, it's really impressive. He's a bulldog competitor, and that's the guy you want to play behind.
*Ryan Pressly wriggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the 8th.
*Collin McHugh struck out the side on 14 pitches in the 9th. Since coming off the IL, McHugh:
5.1IP, 2H/0ER, 7K:1BB.
*Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and Tyler White each had two hits. It's Tyler White's first 2-hit game since June 18.
*George Springer was 0x2 with 2BB. It's his 6th 2BB game of the year. The first pitch of the bottom of the 1st featured Andrew Heaney throwing a looping curveball in honor of his best friend Tyler Skaggs. Anaheim catcher Dustin Garneau told Springer of the plan, and Springer pulled his bat back to watch the pitch sail in. Springer:
It's an honor to be a part of it and I hope (Heaney) got something out of it. It's just a good moment for our sport.
Andrew Heaney’s first pitch of the night was a big, slow curveball to pay tribute to his best friend, Tyler Skaggs. pic.twitter.com/lCVId1bUIU— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 6, 2019
*Yuli Gurriel hit another home run, his 13th of the year. Gurriel hit 13 home runs in all of 2018. He has home runs in four straight games, and five of his last six. Since June 23, Gurriel leads MLB with 8HR. His brother is third, with six home runs. Gurriel has not GIDP'd since June 14, a span of 79 PAs. Hinch:
He's probably the one guy in there who doesn't want the All-Star Game to come. He'll want it from a fatigue level but not from a production level. He's been as good as anybody.
Gurriel is the first Astro since Morgan Ensberg (2006) to hit eight home runs in ten games.
*Josh Reddick had the Astros' only hit w/RISP - the team was 1x7.
*Michael Brantley was not in the lineup due to right hamstring soreness.
*Just in case you were thinking of pulling for Joc Pederson or some other scrub, here are five reasons to root for Alex Bregman in the Home Run Derby.
*MLB.com has the scouting reports on all 50 Futures Game participants, including J.B. Bukauskas.
*Framber Valdez started for Round Rock last night, throwing 3IP, 2H/2ER, 7K:2BB.
*Chad Donato made his Double-A debut last night, and struck out a season-high ten batters.
*A Musical Selection:
