Houston 2, Dallas 1

5 kicks from Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas

5 kicks from Houston Dynamo vs. FC Dallas
Mauro Manotas scored a double in the Houston Dynamo's 2-1 win over FC Dallas. Photo by Wilf Thorne/Houston Dynamo.

The good times roll on for the Houston Dynamo who sit top three in their conference, and top five in the overall MLS standings, after a 2-1 win over Texas rivals FC Dallas. Mauro Manotas scored twice in the victory that gives Dynamo fans bragging rights until the next Texas Derby match in August.

Here are five observations from Saturday's match:

1. Points keep coming at home

This one was close but, in the end, the Dynamo were able to take the full three points and better their home record to 5-0-1 (6-1-1 overall). The Dynamo have taken advantage of a favorable home-tilted schedule by picking up 16 of the team's 19 total points at BBVA Compass Stadium.

The win was also the team's fifth consecutive at home and, with the summer heat on it's way, there's no sign of that streak, or at least their six-match unbeaten streak, ending soon. From what we've seen through 10 weeks of MLS, there's no reason to think the Dynamo should falter to Portland, D.C. United or Sporting KC - the three opponents before the two-week Gold Cup break in June.

Still, there's no reason to let up or get overconfident considering the road-heavy second half of the season. Before their next home game, the Dynamo head to Seattle next weekend for a match they are not expected to win.

2. Disaster avoided in the final minutes

The Dynamo were in control for most of the match against FC Dallas. The final moments generated an 87th minute Dallas goal that narrowed the gap to 2-1 before an offside call in the 90+7 minute saved the Dynamo from a 2-2 result.

The biggest cause for concern from the Dynamo is that they haven't stomped on the throats of their opposition when given the chance. Four of the team's five wins at home have been by a margin of one goal with the only other being by two.

The team has shown opportunities to be more aggressive but have played more conservative - at least in the previous matches. This team has every opportunity to pose more danger, especially with the qualities of their three best attacking players, and their hesitation to do so is what hinders them from being one of the elite teams in the league.

3. Manotas record-chasing season rolls on

Manotas regained his confidence last week in the 2-0 win over Columbus and added two goals to this account. The first came off in the 20th off a penalty he shot with plenty of power to avoid being saved by FC Dallas goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez.

The second goal comes on a transition play that saw the team go from defending a corner to extending their lead in the matter of seconds. His simple touch, one with conviction, was a perfect display of the confidence he has regained after going quiet for a few games in terms of goals.

This performance puts Manotas back on track of fulfilling one of the goals set in preseason - to become the club's all-time leading scorer. He could very well reach Brian Ching's record by the end of the year and he plans to do so sooner rather than later as he alluded to post-game:

"I want to break whatever records I have left this year and that has to do with the amount of goals I score. I hope to continue doing that and leave my footprint on the team at the end of the year."

4. Memo gets first game-winning assist

Midfielder Memo Rodriguez picked up his second career assist when he set up Mauro Manotas for the Dynamo's second goal in the 58th minute. The homegrown from El Campo, TX is playing his best soccer in a Dynamo jersey and continues to added his first game-winning assist to his list of accomplishments.

Rodriguez has shown his drive after being considered for only 645 league minutes in 2018. The 23-year-old has taken full advantage of Romell Quioto's absence due to injury and stated his case to be one a starter.

His qualities are different from Quioto, he doesn't have the speed (few do) to be elusive so his game consists more of controlling the ball and setting up his teammates with precision. It remains to be seen how long the Manager will continue to start him with the return of Quioto but Rodriguez certainly gives the team a different element in attack, one that allows the team to breathe and pace themselves.

5. Quioto returns

Honduran forward Romell Quioto returned to the field after suffering a right knee injury during national team duty in the March FIFA International window. It was Quioto's fourth appearance this season (third off the bench) and first since the 3-2 win against Vancouver on March 16.

He almost bagged a goal two minutes after entering the match, which proceeded to be called offside. Even though he didn't appear on the score sheet, his return marks an immediate plus to the attack because of his unique speed.

Quioto's return gives the Dynamo two terrifying options for opposing defenses when both he and Alberth Elis are on the field. When one is out, the Dynamo just aren't the same team - nevertheless when both are unavailable.

Dynamo player of the game: Mauro Manotas

Next up:

Saturday, May 11 at Seattle Sounders FC (9 p.m. CT, KUBE 57)

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Can top prospect Brice Matthews give Houston a boost? Composite Getty Image.

What looked like a minor blip after an emotional series win in Los Angeles has turned into something more concerning for the Houston Astros.

Swept at home by a Guardians team that came in riding a 10-game losing streak, the Astros were left looking exposed. Not exhausted, as injuries, underperformance, and questionable decision-making converged to hand Houston one of its most frustrating series losses of the year.

 

Depth finally runs dry

 

It would be easy to point to a “Dodger hangover” as the culprit, the emotional peak of an 18-1 win at Chavez Ravine followed by a mental lull. But that’s not the story here.

Houston’s energy was still evident, especially in the first two games of the series, where the offense scored five or more runs each time. Including those, the Astros had reached that mark in eight of their last 10 games heading into Wednesday’s finale.

But scoring isn’t everything, not when a lineup held together by duct tape and desperation is missing Christian Walker and Jake Meyers and getting critical at-bats from Cooper Hummel, Zack Short, and other journeymen.

The lack of depth finally showed. The Astros, for three days, looked more like a Triple-A squad with Jose Altuve and a couple big-league regulars sprinkled in.

 

Cracks in the pitching core

 

And the thing that had been keeping this team afloat, elite pitching, finally buckled.

Hunter Brown and Josh Hader, both dominant all season, finally cracked. Brown gave up six runs in six innings, raising his pristine 1.82 ERA to 2.21. Hader wasn’t spared either, coughing up a game-losing grand slam in extra innings that inflated his ERA from 1.80 to 2.38 in one night.

But the struggles weren’t isolated. Bennett Sousa, Kaleb Ort, and Steven Okert each gave up runs at critical moments. The bullpen’s collective fade could not have come at a worse time for a team already walking a tightrope.

 

Injury handling under fire

 

Houston’s injury management is also drawing heat, and rightfully so. Jake Meyers, who had been nursing a calf strain, started Wednesday’s finale. He didn’t even make it through one pitch before aggravating the injury and needing to be helped off the field.

No imaging before playing him. No cautionary rest despite the All-Star break looming. Just a rushed return in a banged-up lineup, and it backfired immediately.

Second-guessing has turned to outright criticism of the Astros’ medical staff, as fans and analysts alike wonder whether these mounting injuries are being made worse by how the club is handling them.

 

Pressure mounts on Dana Brown

 

All eyes now turn to Astros GM Dana Brown. The Astros are limping into the break with no clear reinforcements on the immediate horizon. Only Chas McCormick is currently rehabbing in Sugar Land. Everyone else? Still sidelined.

Brown will need to act — and soon.

At a minimum, calling up top prospect Brice Matthews makes sense. He’s been mashing in Triple-A (.283/.400/.476, 10 HR, .876 OPS) and could play second base while Jose Altuve shifts to left field more regularly. With Mauricio Dubón stretched thin between shortstop and center, injecting Matthews’ upside into the infield is a logical step.

*Editor's note: The Astros must be listening, Matthews was called up Thursday afternoon!

 

There’s also trade chatter, most notably about Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins, but excitement has been tepid. His numbers don’t jump off the page, but compared to who the Astros are fielding now, Mullins would be a clear upgrade and a much-needed big-league presence.

 

A final test before the break

 

Before the All-Star reset, Houston gets one last chance to stabilize the ship, and it comes in the form of a rivalry series against the Texas Rangers. The Astros will send their top trio — Lance McCullers Jr., Framber Valdez, and Hunter Brown — to the mound for a three-game set that will test their resolve, their health, and perhaps their postseason aspirations.

The Silver Boot is up for grabs. So is momentum. And maybe, clarity on just how far this version of the Astros can go.

There's so much more to discuss! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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