Roberto Osuna blows the save to end Houston's winning streak

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 8-7 loss

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 8-7 loss
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

After bludgeoning the Orioles 23-2 on Saturday to secure the series win, the Astros had the chance for a sweep and their ninth-straight victory on Sunday afternoon. Here is a recap of the finale in Baltimore:

Final Score: Orioles 8, Astros 7.

Record: 77-41, first in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Richard Bleier (3-0, 6.00 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Roberto Osuna (3-3, 3.04 ERA).

1) O's give Verlander grief 

Justin Verlander had a surprisingly rough outing against the Orioles on Sunday. It started in the bottom of the first when the Orioles would jump out to a 1-0 lead by scoring a run on three hits against him. After Houston took over 3-1 in the top of the second, Baltimore would keep getting to Verlander by getting another run on a couple of hits and a walk, trimming the lead to 3-2.

He settled back in after that, working around a double and hit batter in the third to maintain the lead then getting his first 1-2-3 inning in the fourth. The Orioles would regain the lead against him in the bottom of the fifth, though, tagging him with two more runs before his pitch count would cause his day to end early.

While he left after five innings with his team down 4-3, Verlander was still able to make it five-straight double-digit strikeout games, getting eleven in his otherwise rough outing. His final line: 5 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 11 K, 0 HR.

2) Correa showcases his power again

After going down 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning, Houston was able to quickly take a lead of their own in the top of the second. Alex Bregman led the inning off by working a walk, followed by a single by Yordan Alvarez. That put two runners on base for Carlos Correa, who drilled a home run to left-center field, much like his monster the night before, giving him back-to-back games with a homer.

They would watch that lead dissipate over the next few innings as Verlander would give up the go-ahead runs in the fifth. Chris Devenski was first out of Houston's bullpen to pitch the bottom of the sixth, but he too would allow a run on a two-out RBI-single to extend Baltimore's lead to 5-3.

3) Houston mounts a comeback, Osuna blows the save

The Astros went to work against Baltimore's bullpen in the top of the seventh, getting runners on second and third with no outs after a couple of hits to start the inning. Jose Altuve drove in a run on an RBI-groundout to make it a one-run game, but they would strand two runners to remain down 5-4.

Will Harris was able to keep the score where it was by throwing a scoreless 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh with a little help from a terrific defensive play by Carlos Correa. Correa led off the top of the next inning with a single, giving him a multi-hit game, but would become another stranded runner.

Joe Biagini took over on the mound in the bottom of the eighth and although he would load the bases with one out, would get out of the jam to keep it a one-run game going to the ninth. Houston had the top of their lineup up in the top of the ninth, and they put the first two runners aboard.

Michael Brantley came through for Houston, drilling a ball into the right-field corner and coming all the way around to score on a hit which would go down as a triple and an error instead of an inside-the-park home run, but either way gave Houston a 7-5 lead.

Roberto Osuna would be brought in to wrap things up in the bottom of the ninth, but instead allowed three runs including a two-run walk-off homer. The loss ended Houston's eight-game winning streak.

Up Next: Houston will stay on the road and start a new series with the White Sox in Chicago on Monday night. The opener will begin at 7:10 PM Central and the expected pitching matchup is Zack Greinke (11-4, 3.08 ERA) making his second start for Houston going against Dylan Cease (2-4, 6.00 ERA) for Chicago.

The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
Get ready for one of the best matchups of the season! Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

The Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills both enter Week 5 with identical records, looking to continue their strong early-season performances. The Texans, led by breakout quarterback C.J. Stroud, come off a thrilling 24-20 win over Jacksonville, while the Bills are seeking to bounce back after a disappointing 35-10 loss to Baltimore.

Bet MGM NFL Odds: Bills favored by 1
Against the Spread: Buffalo 2-2, Houston 0-3-1
Series Record: Texans lead 6-5
Last Meeting: Bills defeated Texans 40-0 (Oct. 3, 2021)

Key matchups and players to watch

Texans WR Nico Collins:
Collins has been one of the most productive receivers in the NFL this season, leading the league with 489 receiving yards. Coming off a career-best performance with 12 catches for 151 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville, Collins will be a key target for Stroud against Buffalo’s strong secondary.

Bills DE A.J. Epenesa:
With Von Miller suspended, Epenesa will be expected to step up as Buffalo’s primary pass rusher. Epenesa has one sack through four starts and needs to take on a larger role with the absence of Miller, who leads the NFL's active players in sacks.

Texans WR Stefon Diggs vs. Former Team:
Diggs, who was traded to the Texans in the offseason, will face his former team for the first time. He has been productive for Houston, logging 233 yards and two receiving touchdowns this season, as well as his first career rushing touchdown last week.

Key injuries

The Bills face multiple injury concerns, including linebacker Terrel Bernard, cornerback Taron Johnson, and safety Taylor Rapp, all of whom are questionable. Buffalo's leading receiver Khalil Shakir (ankle) has been ruled out. The Texans could see the return of WR Tank Dell after he missed last week, though RB Joe Mixon is not expected to play. LT Laremy Tunsil is questionable, which could impact their offensive game plan.

Update: Aaron Wilson has the latest on which Texans players are practicing on Friday.

Team stats and trends

Bills Offense:
Buffalo’s offense ranks second in scoring but has been inconsistent, as seen in their 10-point showing against the Ravens last week. Josh Allen, while turnover-prone in the past, is on a four-game streak without throwing an interception.

Texans Defense:
Houston’s defense has been a standout, ranking fifth overall and excelling against the pass, which could be key against the Bills' passing attack. However, their 40 penalties this season have been a major issue, and they'll need more discipline to keep pace with Buffalo.

Texans Offense:
Houston's passing game has been stellar, with Stroud leading the Texans to the 8th-best offense overall and the 3rd-ranked passing attack. This will be a critical factor against Buffalo’s defense, which ranks 6th against the pass.

Fantasy tip

Look for Nico Collins to continue his dominant streak as Stroud’s top target. Collins has over 80 receiving yards in six straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL.

Final thoughts

This matchup pits a strong Texans passing game against a resilient Bills defense. Buffalo holds the slight edge in the spread, and with both teams vying for a crucial win, this should be a hard-fought contest.


______________

ChatGPT contributed to this content.

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome