Astros waste a gem by Verlander
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 2 hits from the 2-1 loss
Aug 21, 2019, 9:24 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After turning around a disappointing week last week by starting this one with a three-game winning streak, Houston was looking to lock up a four-game series win by taking game three on Wednesday night. Justin Verlander was on the mound against his former team. Here is a recap of the game:
Final Score: Tigers 2, Astros 1.
Record: 81-47, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Buck Farmer (4-4, 3.74 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Justin Verlander (15-5, 2.77 ERA).
1) Verlander dominates his former team in a complete game, still gets the loss
Justin Verlander started Wednesday's night game perfectly, getting through the first four and two-thirds innings by retiring the first fourteen batters he faced in order. The first hit and baserunner he allowed came on a two-out solo home run in the top of the fifth, which put Detroit ahead 1-0.
After the offense was only able to provide him with a tying run, Verlander would continue on the mound through the ninth inning. However, in the top of the ninth, he would allow a go-ahead solo home run to start the inning, putting the Tigers up 2-1 and unfortunately giving him the loss. Verlander's final line: 9 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 11 K, 2 HR.
.@JustinVerlander becomes just 5th pitcher ever to have a 10+ K streak of at least 7 games. pic.twitter.com/ocrGh4LlPH
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) August 22, 2019
2) Astros get a solo home run by Chirinos, but nothing more
After being shutout through the first six innings while Verlander dealt on the mound, Houston was finally able to get on the board thanks to a solo home run by Robinson Chirinos to lead off the bottom of the seventh. After Detroit went ahead in the top of the ninth before Verlander completed the inning and nine innings, it was up to the offense to try and tie or walk it off. They would, unfortunately, come up empty, wasting a gem by Verlander and losing the game.
Up Next: The Astros will wrap up this four-game series with the Tigers on Thursday night with the finale scheduled for another 7:10 PM start. After being scratched from his last start, Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.87 ERA) is expected to return to the mound for Houston as he goes opposite of Jordan Zimmerman (1-8, 6.66 ERA) for Detroit.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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Framber Valdez struck out 10 in 6 1/3 innings, Alex Bregman and Jon Singleton hit home runs and the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 on Friday night.
SMOKED. 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/dtNChMqi4n
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 27, 2024
Bregman hit a solo home run to left in the third inning and Singleton hit a 403-foot two-run homer into the second deck in right in the fourth.
Big Jon to the upper deck! #Relentless pic.twitter.com/qLPKYBkjxo
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 27, 2024
Joey Loperfido had an RBI single in the second and made an outstanding leaping grab to rob Shohei Ohtani of extra bases in the third. Mauricio Dubón added an RBI double in the eighth.
Valdez (9-5) scattered four hits in winning his fourth straight decision. He has allowed three runs or fewer in six of his last seven starts.
Ohtani was 2 for 3 with a walk as the Dodgers were shut out for the fifth time this season.
After Ohtani singled to leadoff the game, Valdez retired 16 straight, including the last six by strikeout, before Gavin Lux singled with one out in the sixth. Valdez proceeded to walk the bases loaded, but he struck out Teoscar Hernández and induced Andy Pages to flyout to end the threat.
The Dodgers had runners on the corners with one out in the seventh, but Bryan Abreu struck out Nick Ahmed, and Bregman tagged out Kiké Hernández, who overran second on Lux's infield single.
Gavin Stone (9-4) yielded four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Stone surrendered four runs for the third time in his last four starts.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Astros: RHP Luis Garcia (right elbow surgery) threw a 35-pitch bullpen Friday, manager Joe Espada said. … RHP Justin Verlander (neck discomfort) is scheduled to throw a bullpen Saturday, Espada said. … OF Kyle Tucker (right shin contusion) continued to do outfield drills Friday, and “he’s improving but not at the pace we want him to,” Espada said.
DODGERS TRADE
Los Angeles traded LHP James Paxton to the Red Sox in exchange for minor league INF Moises Bolivar.
UP NEXT
Dodgers LHP Justin Wrobleski (1-0, 4.40 ERA) will start Saturday opposite Astros RHP Ronel Blanco (9-5, 2.75 ERA).