Royals crush the Astros to even series
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 2 hits from the 12-2 loss
May 7, 2019, 9:56 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
With one win under their belt from the night before, Houston looked to lock up the series on Tuesday night against the Royals. Here's a quick rundown of the game:
Final Score: Royals 12, Astros 2
Record: 21-15, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Danny Duffy (1-1, 3.06 ERA)
Losing pitcher: Collin McHugh (3-4, 6.37 ERA)
1) McHugh gets roughed up, as does Valdez
After a quick first inning, McHugh unraveled through the next few, allowing a solo home run in the second to put the Royals up 1-0, then an RBI-double and grand slam in the third to extend their lead to 6-0. McHugh would stay on the mound to start the fourth but would allow two more runners before recording an out, prompting a call to the bullpen. Chris Devenski would get through the fourth, but not before allowing those two inherited runners to score, bringing McHugh's total earned runs to 8 on the night.
Framber Valdez was next out of the bullpen to try and eat up some innings after Devenski, but he too would fall victim to Kansas City's bats as he allowed the second grand slam of the night in the seventh inning to put the Royals up 12-1, a deficit the Astros would obviously not overcome. Valdez would finish three innings to get the game to the ninth, where none other than Tyler White took over to throw a scoreless ninth.
2) Bregman and Springer provide the only runs
Even with the game out of reach, the Astros didn't phone it in in the late innings. Alex Bregman got Houston on the board, finally, with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth. George Springer provided the only other run on the night with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
Up Next: Houston and Kansas City will wrap up this series with another 7:10 PM start for the rubber game on Wednesday night. The Astros will have Brad Peacock (2-2, 5.28 ERA) on the mound to try and win the rubber match against Jorge Lopez (0-3, 5.09 ERA) for the Royals.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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The Houston Astros didn’t just sweep the defending champs this weekend, they changed the tone of their season.
Dominant pitching. Star power. Road swagger. The three-game dismantling of the Los Angeles Dodgers at Chavez Ravine wasn’t about revenge or validation. It was about showing, once and for all, that this version of the Astros, short-handed and all, belongs squarely in the conversation with baseball’s elite.
A statement series
The Astros pitching staff was lights out against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, holding the Dodgers to just six runs across three games, including two contests where LA managed just a single run. Lance McCullers Jr., much-maligned after getting shelled by the Cubs last week, bounced back in a big way. He worked around four walks, giving up just one run on a solo homer, a much-needed course correction as the Astros evaluate their playoff rotation options.
On the offensive side, the stars delivered in a big way. Jose Altuve torched Dodgers pitching with three home runs, seven RBIs, two walks, and just one strikeout. Christian Walker matched him with six hits of his own, including a pair of long balls and six RBIs.
A shift in expectations?
This wasn’t just a series win. This was a proof of concept.
Houston came into the series already heating up, now they’re officially on fire. Over the last 30 days, the Astros rank third in runs and fifth in RBIs. For the season, they’re top 10 in nearly every key offensive category: eighth in OPS, first in batting average, ninth in slugging. Defensively, the numbers are just as strong. They lead MLB in strikeouts and opponents’ batting average, and rank second in WHIP.
Put it all together, and you’ve got a team with top-five upside in both pitching and offense. The pieces are clicking. The vibes are real. And the Astros suddenly look like a legitimate World Series contender again.
Is help on the way?
Reliever Hector Neris rejoined the team this week, offering a veteran boost to a bullpen that’s been leaned on heavily. Neris brings postseason pedigree and a reputation as a clubhouse leader. The Astros hope a return to familiar surroundings, and the guidance of one of the best pitching development staffs in the league, can get him back on track.
Tayler Scott returns on a minor league deal, and while the move may not turn heads, it adds another layer of depth to a bullpen that’s already one of the league’s best.
Background noise in LA
No Astros-Dodgers series goes by without a little extra noise and this one was no different. During the broadcast, former Cy Young winner and Dodgers analyst Orel Hershiser raised eyebrows by implying that Houston’s offensive surge might not have been entirely on the level.
Predictable? Absolutely. Meaningful? Not even close.
If anything, it’s a weird kind of compliment. No one questions legitimacy when you’re losing. But after a lopsided 18-1 beat down people start reaching for answers, or excuses.
Inside the Astros clubhouse, though, that chatter doesn’t register.
They know exactly what this sweep meant. And so does the rest of the league.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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