Astros extend winning streak to six games
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 8-1 win
May 13, 2019, 9:14 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After sweeping the Rangers in Houston to finish last week and put them on a five-game winning streak, the Astros started a week on the road in Detroit on Monday night. Here's a recap of the first of three games against the Tigers:
Final Score: Astros 8, Tigers 1
Record: 27-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Brad Peacock (4-2, 4.01 ERA)
Losing pitcher: Matthew Boyd (4-3, 3.15 ERA)
1) Living by the long ball
Aledmys Diaz got the scoring started for Houston in the top of the second, hitting a solo home run to grab a 1-0 lead. After a walk from Tyler White in the next at-bat, Robinson Chirinos took advantage with a home run of his own to extend the lead to 3-0. Jake Marisnick kept the home run train going by hitting a two-run blast of his own in the top of the seventh to make the game 5-1. George Springer scored the first run that wasn't a homer in the top of the ninth, hitting an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1 before Alex Bregman immediately followed with a home run to make it 8-1.
2) Peacock throws five innings
Brad Peacock did not have as great of a start on Monday as he did last week in Houston, only getting through five innings of work compared to the seven shutout innings in his last start. Over those five innings, he allowed one run on just three hits, four walks, and struck out three. The four walks increased his pitch count early, resulting in his short outing.
3) Bullpen pitches the final four innings
Hector Rondon took over on the mound in the sixth and was able to work around a hit to complete a scoreless inning. Will Harris had the seventh and was able to erase a couple of walks to send the game to the final two innings. Ryan Pressly was on the mound for the eighth and continued his streak of scoreless innings, then Josh James came in with the seven-run lead in the ninth and closed out the win on an incredible catch by George Springer.
Up Next: The Astros and Tigers will continue this series with another 6:10 PM start time tomorrow night. Wade Miley (3-2, 3.18 ERA) will be on the mound for Houston opposite of Ryan Carpenter (0-1, 10.80 ERA) for Detroit.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will make his season debut Friday night at the Washington Nationals.
Houston manager Joe Espada made the announcement Wednesday.
“Getting him back is huge because it brings a level of confidence to our team, a boost of confidence that we’re going to get someone who’s been an MVP, a Cy Young (winner) on the mound,” Espada said. “It's (good) for the morale and to get stuff started and moving in the right direction.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder. He made two rehabilitation starts, the first for Triple-A Sugar Land on April 7 before Saturday’s start for Double-A Corpus Christi.
Espada wouldn't say how many pitches the 41-year-old would be limited to but said they'll keep an eye on his workload.
“We've got to be careful how hard we push him early,” Espada said. “I know he’s going to want to go and stay out there and give us an opportunity to win, but we've got to be cautious of how hard we push him early in the season.”
Verlander wasn’t thrilled with the results in his rehabilitation starts, but he said Monday that those games were valuable in getting him prepared to come off the IL.
He allowed seven hits and six runs — five earned — in four innings against Frisco on Saturday. He struck out three, walked one and threw 51 of 77 pitches for strikes.
Verlander allowed six earned runs and struck out six while pitching into the fourth inning for Sugar Land on April 7.
The Astros have gotten off to a tough start with Verlander and fellow starters Framber Valdez and José Urquidy on the injured list. They enter Wednesday's games last in the AL West with a 6-13 record.
Espada hopes Verlander can be the boost the team needs to get on track.
“It’s good to get him back in the rotation,” Espada said. “With what he means to this club just to get him back on track, getting some innings from him (to) build our rotation with the pieces that we need to move forward is exciting.”