Astros drop their third straight game

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 2 hits from the 4-3 loss

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 2 hits from the 4-3 loss
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Looking to end their two-game skid, the Astros sent their ace Justin Verlander to the mound to try and get back in the win column on Tuesday night against the Reds. Here is a recap of the middle game of the series:

Final Score: Reds 4, Astros 3.

Record: 48-26, first in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Anthony DeSclafani (4-3, 4.22 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Justin Verlander (9-3, 2.59 ERA).

1) Offense comes up just short again

After finding themselves down three runs early, the offense had trouble putting any big innings together to threaten to take a come from behind lead. They didn't get on the board until the top of the sixth, trimming the lead to two runs on an RBI-double by Yordan Alvarez.

Down 4-1 in the top of the eighth, the Astros would have their best inning offensively, getting a leadoff walk to set up a two-run home run for Alex Bregman to make it a one-run game. Brantley would hit a no-out single next and move to second on a wild pitch but would be left stranded to keep them behind in the game. They would come up empty in the top of the ninth to drop their third straight game.

2) Early homers haunt Verlander

Justin Verlander continued to struggle with home runs in his start on Tuesday night, allowing a solo and two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to put Houston in a quick 3-0 hole. Though Verlander would rebound well from those early runs, his offense would be unable to get him off the hook.

He'd go on to allow just two hits over the next five innings, but with his night nearing an end with two outs in the seventh, would get dinged with one more home run to extend Cincinnati's lead back to three-runs at 4-1. Verlander's final line: 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 3 HR.

Chris Devenski pitched a scoreless eighth inning, but there would be no bottom of the ninth with the offense going down 1-2-3 in the top half of the inning, ending the loss for Houston.

Up Next: Houston will wrap up his series with Cincinnati tomorrow with an early game starting at 11:35 AM. The pitching matchup for the finale will be Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.67 ERA) for the Astros going against Tyler Mahle (2-7, 4.33 ERA) for the Reds.

The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.

Most Popular

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome

Listen Live

ESPN Houston 97.5 FM
Revisiting the Texans' remarkable season. Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images.

What an incredible year it was for the Houston Texans. It's hard to believe how much they accomplished in such a short period of time. They went into the draft not knowing who their quarterback would be in 2023, and finished the season winning the division and then beating the Browns in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

What a turnaround it was for the franchise. Here's your chance to relive all the magic and special moments in this mini-movie the Texans put together.

Enjoy, and go Texans!

SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome