Oakland returns the favor and pummels the Astros
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 2 hits from the 21-7 loss
Sep 10, 2019, 10:31 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After beating the Mariners and A's with a combined score of 36-1 over the last two games, Houston looked to stay hot on offense to take the second game of this series against Oakland and continue moving towards a clinch of the division. Here is a recap of Tuesday's game:
Final Score: A's 21, Astros 7.
Record: 95-51, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Tanner Roark (10-8, 4.01 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Wade Miley (13-5, 3.74 ERA).
1) What is going on with Wade Miley?
After a horrible appearance in his last start where he had five earned runs and left the game without recording an out, Wade Miley was likely determined to get out to a quick and efficient start on Tuesday. Instead, he had an even worse performance than his last, giving up seven earned runs while getting a single out.
He allowed a lead-off single, then a one-out walk, followed by six consecutive singles which put Oakland out to an immediate 6-0 lead before A.J. Hinch would make his way to the mound and move to the bullpen. Cy Sneed would quickly warm-up and finish the first, but not before allowing another of Miley's runs. Miley's final line: 0.1 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR.
2) A night to forget for Houston
Unlike Miley's last disaster where he was eventually bailed out by his offense, there was no coming back for the Astros in this one. Sneed allowed four runs of his own, allowing two two-run homers with one in the second and one in the third. Joe Biagini did even worse, coming in to try and eat some innings in the fourth but instead allowing three two-run homers without getting a single out.
Devenski finished the fourth, but Oakland would get to him too, tagging him with a solo home run and an RBI-double. Framber Valdez was next and allowed the 20th run to the A's on the night on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, then one last run in the ninth, though he would finish the game.
Although futile, the Astros did get a few offensive highlights, including two-homer nights for George Springer and Martin Maldonado, and RBIs from Myles Straw, Abraham Toro, and Jake Marisnick.
Up Next: Houston will look to quickly erase this loss from their memory and take a 2-1 lead in the series with a win on Wednesday night. Game three of this four-game set will get underway at 7:10 PM, and while the A's are expected to start Brett Anderson (11-9, 4.08 ERA), the Astros will look to their bullpen to go all nine innings as they work with a four-man rotation the rest of the year.
The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.
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C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans are looking for answers after their passing game couldn’t get going in a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Houston’s passing attack had been a strength all season, and the Texans ranked fifth in yards passing per game through their first six games. But on Sunday at Lambeau Field, Stroud was limited to a career-low 86 yards in the 24-22 loss, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Stroud was 10 of 21 and didn’t have a touchdown pass for the first time this season. The second-year player was under duress for much of the day and was sacked four times and hit seven other times.
“We have to go back to the drawing board and see what those issues were,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As we watch the film, we’ll see what happened, starting for me the communication and just guys being on the details of the job.”
'Everything is on the table. We have to get it fixed' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on offensive line and if personnel changes are being contemplated @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/AwK0rqeU2z
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
The Texans scored a season-high 41 points in a win over New England a week earlier in which Stroud threw a season-best three touchdown passes despite being without star receiver Nico Collins.
They were unable to replicate that success Sunday with Collins out for the second of at least four games after a hamstring injury landed him on injured reserve.
Stefon Diggs led the team with five receptions against the Packers, but they only amounted to 23 yards. Tank Dell, who the Texans expected to step up with Collins out, was targeted four times but didn’t have a catch.
Stroud discussed the importance of getting Dell more involved in the offense.
“We have to find a way to try and get him the rock early and often and then go from there,” he said. “It has to be a focus for us, not only just him, but the whole offense clicking early. That is really my job to get the ball out on time and to where it is supposed to go. So yeah, that definitely has to be fixed.”
Ryans spoke about his confidence is getting Dell going.
'I have all the faith in Tank' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans expressed confidence in Tank Dell ability to get back to making explosive plays again as he did as a rookie @KPRC2 pic.twitter.com/bojBEx3lYo
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) October 21, 2024
What's working
The Texans have forced seven turnovers combined in their last two games after they hadn’t caused any in their previous three games.
Houston scored 16 points off three turnovers Sunday. The Texans had two interceptions and recovered a fumble on a punt. In their win over the Patriots, they scored 17 points off a season-high four turnovers.
What needs help
The Texans won’t get to where they want to be this season if Stroud doesn’t get back on track. Before Sunday, last year’s AP Offensive Rookie of the Year was averaging more than 262 yards passing a game, giving the team confidence that the problems in the passing game are fixable.
Ryans knows the line must give Stroud more time to throw and said the coaching staff will focus on improving in that area this week.
Stock up
RB Joe Mixon continued to shine Sunday in his second game back after missing three games with an ankle injury. Mixon, who is in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati, had 25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay.
Mixon is confident the Texans will rebound this week if they quit making mistakes.
“Does it look I’m worried? I’m not worried at all,” he said. “Like I said, we got a ... good football team. At the end of the day, we are our own worst enemy.”
Stock down
Dell was unable to help Stroud get the passing game going. The second-year player had a solid rookie season with 709 yards receiving and seven touchdowns in 11 games before breaking his leg. But he hasn’t been able to build on that success this year and has just 194 yards receiving with one score in six games.
Injuries
LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), LB Henry To’oTo’o (concussion), CB Kamari Lassiter (shoulder) and S Jimmie Ward (groin) all missed Sunday’s game and it’s unclear if any of these starters can return this week.
Key number
3 — Safety Calen Bullock had his third interception Sunday to tie Dunta Robinson and Jumal Rolle for most interceptions by a rookie in franchise history through the first seven games. He leads NFL rookies in interceptions this season and is tied for third-most among all players.
Next steps
The AFC South-leading Texans (5-2) return to division play Sunday when they host the second-place Colts (4-3), who have won two in a row and four of five.