The Houston Astros improved to 5-3 over the city of Chicago with a 6-4 win against the Cubs last night. Houston is now 22-19, 3.0GB of the Rangers who got torched 12-0 by Atlanta. Houston has won five of their last six games.
The Astros' six runs were the most in a single game since a 6-4 win over Seattle on May 5, a span of eight games - the longest such span of the season. Houston's 11 hits were the most in a single game since cranking ten hits on May 1 against San Francisco - and of course nine of those hits were singles. The Astros at least mixed in two doubles (Abreu, McCormick) and a homer (Bregman) last night. Houston is 12-1 when getting 10+ hits.
*Alex Bregman's 2-run homer in the 7th proved to be the game-winner. It's his first homer since May 3, which is also the last time he had multiple RsBI. In his last seven games, Bregman is hitting .286/.333/.464. He hasn't struck out since May 7.
*Jose Abreu went 2x3 with a walk! It's the first time he's been on base three times in a game since April 3.
Abreu's RsBI, April 26-May 14: 3
Abreu's RsBI, May 15: 2
*Mauricio Dubon had hisself a 3x4 night, the 4th time this season - and the 5th time as an Astro - he has recorded three hits in a game.
*Yordan's 1x2, 2BB night gives him a 35-game On-Base streak to start the season. He's the second hitter to start a season in such a fashion, joining 2018 Odubel Herrera (whose streak ended at 41).
*Kyle Tucker went 0x4, joining Jake Meyers and Martin Maldonado as the only Astros not to get a hit. On April 19, Tucker was slashing .313/.438/.537. Since (22 games): .225/.270/.338.
*Home runs through 41 games:
2023: 36
2022: 56
2021: 48
2019: 75
2018: 44
2017: 55
2016: 53
2015: 61
2014: 43
2013: 41
2012: 30
*Framber Valdez went 4IP, 7H/4ER, 8K:2BB - his shortest outing since being pulled with one out in the 5th on April 19, 2022. 27 of his 53 strikes were non-contact strikes (16 called, 11 swinging). Check out this Chandler Rome piece on "La Grasa."
*The bullpen: 5IP, 1H/0ER, 8K:1BB.
*Astros pitchers struck out 16 Cubs - a single-game season-high. Astros pitchers struck out 16+ batters eight times in 2022 (Anaheim and Oakland were victims three times each).
*Rafael Montero collected his first win of the season, allowing one hit. It's the sixth straight game in which he has allowed a hit, not recording a clean inning since April 22. Montero has allowed a hit in 15 of his 18 appearances in 2023.
Chandler Rome: Montero's bad luck and big contract have him under a microscope.
*Jose Altuve's rehab stint will continue in Corpus tonight.
*Trey Mancini - whose 2022 WS G6 catch at 1B should be more heralded than it is - got his ring from the Astros last night.
*Even the freakin Train is hurt.
*Aaron Judge got caught looking into the dugout mid-AB and now people have Questions. I have more questions for Aaron Boone calling him "Judgie."
*My Hero Marcelo Bielsa officially agreed to manage Uruguay, ending a very sad saga in which I thought he would come back to Leeds United.
*ESPN: The decade-long plan that built Wenbayama into a once-in-a-generation prospect. It's just my opinion - one of an extremely casual Roggits fan - but they should cheat to get that guy.
*I recently read T.J. Newman's "Falling," and enjoyed it very much. The World Series plays prominently in the closing pages.
*A Musical Selection: