The Astros beat the Upper Midlothian Rangers 2-1 last night thanks to Framber and Kyle Tucker. Houston is 25-25. Turns out maybe I shouldn't have gotten so mad about seeing the Baseball-Reference/OOTP simulated standings and stats back when baseball was shut down, because those things were apparently pretty accurate.
The Astros are 6-11 in September, 4-10 in their last 14 games, and will try to win consecutive games for the first time since September 2-3 tonight against Arizona. Houston is 6.0 back of Oakland, and 3.0 up on Seattle, with 10 to play.
*Framber Valdez: 6.1IP, 4H/0ER, 11K:1BB. His 11 strikeouts tied a career-high, set all the way back on August 24. Framber has gotten 18 outs in eight of his 10 starts in 2020. Interestingly enough, Framber has thrown at least one Wild Pitch in four straight games. He had thrown a Wild Pitch in just six games prior to this streak - only ten other Astros pitchers in franchise history have a four-game WP streak. The Astros' franchise Wild Pitch streak record is 7, set by Joe Niekro in 1979.
Framber, in two starts vs. Arlington: 13.1IP, 9H/3ER, 19K:4BB. Dusty:
His curveball was working tonight. They helped him out by chasing some. You don't have much time to pick up that curveball. It's one of the best curveballs around. He kept us in the game big time. Very rarely does a two-run homer early in a game hold up.
*The Astros offense has recorded two runs and eight hits in the last two games against the Ramgers. Kyle Tucker's home run was his first since September 6. Chandler Rome: Astros' offense looks for a lift. Jose Altuve hasn't had an RBI since August 20. Carlos Correa hasn't had an extra-base hit since September 6.
*Bread Peacock (I typed "Bread" instead of "Brad" three times, and so it's staying) is being examined for a recurring arm injury.
*Check out 6'7" Taylor Jones (this is forever how he will be referred to on this here site) wore a Go-Pro in the alternate training site game.
*The Astros are supposed to head to Seattle for a three-game series on Monday. Seattle's home series against San Diego got shifted to San Diego for the weekend. We'll see if the Astros actually play in Seattle, where the air quality index is currently Unhealthy.
Nobody wants to see the Astros in the World Series. The Astros have bumbled their way through the regular season and don't deserve to play for a title.
*Former Astros Great Asher Wojciechowski was DFA'd by the Orioles.
*An autographed Michael Jordan bat was found in the trunk of a car after 26 years.
*Season Two of the Leeds United documentary Take Us Home is out on Amazon Prime.
*Pitchfork: Enya is Everywhere.
*Outside: Meet the Italian bicyclist chasing drug dealers on two wheels
*A Musical Selection:
