A Slow Start: No score to start for the Roughnecks first possession of the game. That's something you don't hear too often here in Houston, with the Roughnecks at least.
PJ Walker made it a point to look for his favorite target, Cam Phillips, early in the game. He managed to finally connect with Phillips later in the half. However, the momentum shifting play was a completed 20 yard catch by Khalil Lewis. After this, all of the receivers took their turn with deep catches to move the chains. Nick Holley was the first Roughneck in the end zone followed by James Butler. Blake Jackson and Sam Mobley also made some moves.
Offense Struggles: The O Line looked shaky the first quarter. A turnover in the red zone early in the game was the worst possible outcome. Just kidding, the touchdown Seattle was able to score off of the turnover was definitely worse. A missed 52 yard field goal attempt made this half a little less easy to watch.
Run Game: The Roughnecks run game is starting to pick up as each week progresses. With the combination of James Butler and now Andre Williams they combined for a total of 106 yards today against the Dragons.
Defense: ……..Um. Yeah. The first half? Not so much. Second half the Roughnecks finally stepped up. The guys were doing their best to hold it down. The goal line defense was clutch for the most part. The big concern is still is stopping the run. With the mix up of BJ Daniels and running back Trent Williams, Seattle's offense looked better than expected.
Attendance: The boys were back home and the fans made sure they knew the support was still there. TDECU Stadium was still rockin' bringing in as many if not more than they did opening weekend.
Your Houston Roughnecks play at New York against the Guardians next Saturday at 1p.m. on ABC.
Houston right-hander J.P. France will have surgery on his throwing shoulder Monday.
France opened the season in the majors but had been optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land and made one start there when he was placed on the injured list in early May.
France resumed throwing recently after being shut down for about a month, but had a setback this week leading to the decision to have surgery. The team did not provide any details about the nature of his surgery in its announcement Wednesday.
France was 0-3 with a 7.46 ERA in five starts for the Astros this season before his demotion.
His injury is the latest in a series of injuries to Houston's starting pitchers this season. The Astros opened the year without Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers because of injuries and José Urquidy and Cristian Javier both had Tommy John surgery earlier this month before ace Justin Verlander landed on the 15-day injured list with neck discomfort.
With only four pitchers currently in the rotation, the club could have really used France with an upcoming schedule that includes ten games in ten days on the road.
And with Garcia not expected back until late July, the Astros will have to get creative with their starters.