Astros drop series opener to Reds

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 3-2 loss

Chris Campise
Jun 17, 2019, 8:59 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

With a disappointing loss on Father's Day to end their recent homestand, the Astros took to the road this week starting with a three-game series with the Reds in Cincinnati. Here is a quick look at game one of the inter-league matchup:

Final Score: Reds 3, Astros 2.

Record: 48-25, first in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Luis Castillo (7-1, 2.26 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Wade Miley (6-4, 3.30 ERA).

1) Miley falls off after rain delay

Wade Miley was out to a good start through the early goings in the game, allowing just one hit and a hit batter over the first seven outs before a rain delay tabled the game for nearly an hour. Miley returned to the mound after the delay and was able to pick up where he left off to complete the third inning with a couple of strikeouts to work around a walk.

He stayed effective in the fourth, getting a 1-2-3 inning, but would falter in the fifth by giving up a single and walk to start the inning then three runs and two walks with one out, ending his night on a rough note. Miley's final line: 4.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 6K.

2) Astros finally score in the seventh, but not enough

In what seemed like the first time in forever (16 innings, to be exact), Houston was finally able to get back on the scoreboard in the seventh inning Monday night by getting a run on an error then later another on an RBI-double by Michael Brantley to trim Cincinnati's lead to 3-2.

Those two runs would be all they'd come away with, though, despite getting plenty of runners on base via nine walks on the night. Houston would strand ten runners in the loss.

3) Bullpen keeps Houston close 

With Miley leaving the game with the bases still loaded and one out in the fifth, it put Hector Rondon in a high-leverage spot to come in and try and limit the damage. Rondon did great, though, getting a double play to end the fifth before going on to throw a scoreless sixth.

Will Harris picked things up in the bottom of the seventh, a scoreless inning to keep the game at one run. Ryan Pressly was out next to pitch the eighth and looked well rested in a scoreless inning.

Up Next: The Astros will continue this series with the Reds with another 6:10 PM start time tomorrow. Houston will have Justin Verlander (9-2, 2.41 ERA) on the mound looking for his tenth win on the year and also seeking to move another spot ahead on the all-time strikeout leaders list. Cincinnati will hand the ball to Anthony DeSclafani (3-3, 4.43 ERA).

The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.

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Houston's magic number is down to 1

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 6-4 win

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

After the mini-sweep of the Rangers concluding with win number 100 on the season which secured a playoff spot, the Astros turned their sights to clinching the division. With their magic number at 2, they could clinch on Friday with a win in the series opener against Los Angeles and an Oakland loss. Here is a recap of the first game of the weekend against the Angels:

Final Score: Astros 6, Angels 4.

Record: 101-53, first in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Zack Greinke (17-5, 3.05 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Jaime Barria (4-10, 6.43 ERA).

1) Starting with a bang

With a chance to clinch their division and continue to lead the battle for playoff home-field advantage, Houston came out swinging on Friday night. In the first inning, the Astros blasted three home runs with solo shots from Jose Altuve which led off the inning, and Alex Bregman as he tries to catch the sidelined Mike Trout for a possible MVP award.

Later in the inning, Carlos Correa took advantage of a runner on base with a home run of his own, a two-run bomb to extend the lead before Josh Reddick tacked on one more with an RBI-single to make it 5-0 after one.

2) Greinke struggles in the fourth but finishes five innings

Zack Greinke allowed just two hits through the first three innings: a single and a solo home run which at the time cut the lead to 5-1. Carlos Correa pushed the lead back to five runs with his second home run of the night in the bottom of the third.

Greinke would struggle in the top of the fourth, however, allowing five straight hits which would score three runs to cut Houston's lead to 6-4. He would recover and toss a 1-2-3 fifth, but that would be it for him in a five-inning start, as Houston passed the ball to their bullpen to throw the last four frames. His final line: 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR.

3) Houston's bullpen dominant the rest of the way

Josh James was the first reliever out of Houston's bullpen to take over for Greinke in the top of the sixth and erased a two-out walk to complete a scoreless inning. Ryan Pressly, making his first appearance in a month after having surgery on his knee, returned dominantly with a 1-2-3 inning.

Will Harris did the same in the top of the eighth, holding the two-run lead going to the ninth. Roberto Osuna had the chance for another save in the top of the ninth and converted it to finish off the 6-4 win. That reduced the magic number to one, meaning the Astros are now a win or Oakland loss away from clinching the American League West. They are also just two wins away from matching last year's franchise number of 103.

Up Next: Game two of this three-game set with the Angles will be on Saturday at 6:10 PM. Wade Miley (14-5, 3.71 ERA) will get the start for Houston while Patrick Sandoval (0-3, 4.91 ERA) is expected to be on the mound for Los Angeles.

The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.

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