*The Astros lost back-to-back games for the first time since July 15/16 at Anaheim. They've lost three of their last four games, but are 19-6 since that July 16 game.
*The Astros needed Miley after abruptly throwing a bullpen game last night, and he responded with 3.1IP, 9H/7R (3ER), 1K:1BB. But Wade Miley only allowed 3ER! you may say. And that's true. But he committed an error that led to three of the four earned runs. It was a bad day to have a bad day. The bullpen has thrown 15.2 of the last 25 innings.
Miley has been good all year, do not think I'm slandering him. It was his shortest outing in a start since September 29, 2018. Miley's seven runs allowed last night equal the number of runs he had allowed in his previous five starts combined (30IP). The nine hits allowed are a season-high, eclipsing the 8H he allowed in his season debut on March 31. Miley on his Scoop-And-Let-The-Other-Team-Score:
That was stupid. It was the second inning of a baseball game. With our offense, just take the out and move on, tie the game up.
*Collin McHugh threw 2.1IP, 1H/1ER, 3K:1BB, pitching on back-to-back days for the first time since July 14/15. This season, in the second game of a back-to-back: 8.0IP, 7H/4R (3ER), 6K:2BB.
McHugh, pre-All-Star Break: 52IP, 43H/31ER, 56K:17BB, 5.37 ERA / 1.15 WHIP.
McHugh, post-All-Star Break: 16.1IP, 12H/8ER, 19K:9BB, 4.41 ERA / 1.29 WHIP.
*Will Harris gave up his first run since July 26. The Astros are 4-3 when Harris gives up a run.
*Ryan Pressly gave up the dagger grand slam to James McCann. It's the 6th home run Pressly has allowed this season. It's the first grand slam he has given up in his career. It's the 7th home run he has allowed as an Astro, and the first five were solo home runs. The last two he has allowed have brought in seven runs. Pressly:
I left the pitch in the middle of the plate and he capitalized on a mistake. Tip your hat to him.
Hinch:
We were pretty sloppy today early in the game and made some bad decisions on defense. We just couldn't keep them from scoring. They scored [in?] six of their eight at-bats. They put runs on the board. They did a really good job of continuing to attack us offensively, but the big swing with the bases loaded...
It's McCann's first home run with a runner on base since June 28.
Former Astros County Great Not Hank Aaron:
James McCann on an 0-2 count this season prior to that at bat.— Aaron Ashcraft (@Aarcraft9) August 14, 2019
.065/.065/.065 with 21 K's
Again, a bad day to have a bad day. McCann:
We very easily could have folded and given into them with the talent they have over there, we kept fighting and kept pushing and never gave in. I was just trying to get something up and elevated. I hit it pretty good and was thankful that it went.
*The Astros committed three errors. Eat at Arby's. Hinch:
At the end of the day, we got outplayed on both sides of the ball. They were swinging the bats pretty well. They didn't miss a mistake. All in all, not a great day.
*It's a shame, because the offense did everything they could do to win the game. It's the 29th time this season Houston has scored 9+ runs. They're now 27-2 in those games.
It's the 8th time they've collected 15+ hits. They're now 7-1 in those games. The last time the Astros got 15 hits in a game and lost was July 19, 2013 in a 10-7 loss to Seattle.
The Astros hit three home runs. They're now 26-4 in those games.
It's the 19th time the Astros have gotten 7+ extra-base hits. They're now 17-2 in those games.
*Michael Brantley was 4x5 with two doubles. It's his 3rd 4-hit game of the season, the 15th 4-hit game of his career.
*Jose Altuve was 3x5 with a two-run homer and three runs scored. Altuve is hitting .354/.397/.626 since returning from the IL.
*Yuli Gurriel hit two more home runs, so that's:
June 11, 2019 - August 14, 2019: 21 home runs
September 23, 2017 - June 10, 2019: 21 home runs (postseasons included)
It's the 4th 2HR game of his career. You have to go all the way back to August 6 to find the last one.
*Yordan Alvarez was intentionally walked for the 3rd time this season, tying Michael Brantley for the team lead. Springer/Altuve/Correa/Bregman intentional walks, 2019 combined: 2.
*8-9-1 in the lineup (Chirinos/Diaz/Maldonado - Marisnick - Springer) went a combined 3x16 with 6K:0BB.
*The one good piece of news of the day: Gerrit Cole and the Astros seem to have dodged a bullet. Cole:
It's not super-serious, so we'll just take it day by day right now and kind of see how it responds to some treatment and some rest and get back out there as soon as we can.
*Fayetteville set a Carolina League record for the most strikeouts by a team in a single season.
*Matt Harvey signed a minor-league deal with Oakland.
*Possible post-season scouting alert: Walker Buehler has all the tools to be a star.
*It's a common refrain among baseball writers whenever the ineptitude of a particular team is on display as they commit fully into rebuilding their organization: let's just do Relegation, like in soccer!
*Remember the Taco Truck Throwdown in Fresno? Well...a guy died doing the taco eating challenge on Tuesday night.
*A Musical Selection: