ASTROS LOSE THE FINALE

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 9-8 loss

Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 3 hits from the 9-8 loss
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

The Astros secured another series win after beating the Rays on Wednesday night. Houston was looking for a sweep on Thursday afternoon with Zack Greinke taking the hill. Here is a recap of the finale of the three-game series.

Final Score: Rays 9, Astros 8.

Record: 87-48, first in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Jose De Leon (1-0, 3.00 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Chris Devenski (2-3, 5.28 ERA).

Not a great start for Greinke

Despite Zack Greinke not having his best performance on Thursday, the Astros still had a chance to win the game. Houston had a 6-5 lead going into the seventh inning when Chris Devenski gave up three earned runs giving the Rays an 8-6 lead.

Astros fight back

​The Astros added a run in the bottom of the seventh, making it a one-run game. That didn't last long when the Rays took that run right back in the top of the eighth making the score 9-7.

Toro homers in the ninth inning

Abraham Toro put the Astros within one run when he homered in the bottom of the ninth off Emilio Pagan, but that wasn't enough as the Astros lost the final game of the series.

Up Next: The Astros head to Toronto for a three-game series against the Blue Jays that starts on Friday at 6:07PM. Wade Miley (13-4, 3.13 ERA) takes the mound for Houston and will face RHP Trent Thornton (4-8, 5.34 ERA).

The Astros daily report is presented by APG&E.

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Hunter Brown takes the mound for Houston Tuesday night. Composite Getty Image.

The Houston Astros will look to even their three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday night at Daikin Park, with ace-in-the-making Hunter Brown taking the mound.

The Astros (55-36) dropped the series opener 7-5 on Monday, snapping a stretch that saw them win six of their last eight games. But they'll have their best arm on the hill in Brown, who enters with a 9-3 record, a sparkling 1.82 ERA, and a microscopic 0.90 WHIP. The right-hander has been the definition of dominant this season, striking out 126 batters and giving Houston a clear edge in any matchup he starts.

Cleveland (41-48) will counter with Joey Cantillo, who has impressed in limited action. The lefty owns a 3.41 ERA and will face a Houston lineup that has been red-hot, batting .298 over the last 10 games and piling up runs behind contributions from Victor Caratini, Cam Smith, and Jose Altuve.

Despite Monday’s setback, the Astros are still 32-15 at home and boast a 43-13 record when outhitting their opponent. Cleveland, meanwhile, has lost nine of its last 10 and is hitting just .187 over that span — though Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan remain threats to change a game with one swing.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jake Meyers has 15 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 21 RBIs for the Astros. Meyers is dealing with a calf issue and was out of the lineup for Game 1 versus the Guardians.

Caratini is 10 for 38 with two doubles and four home runs over the past 10 games.

Tuesday marks the fifth meeting between the two clubs this season, with the series tied 2-2. With Brown on the mound and the offense continuing to click, Houston will try to reclaim control and keep pace atop the American League.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Astros -211, Guardians +173; over/under is 7 runs.

Lineup breakdown

Here's an early look at Houston's lineup for Game 2. Spots 1-6 are the same as Game 1, except Cooper Hummel is playing left field, with Altuve in the DH spot. Mauricio Dubon is hitting seventh and playing second base, with Zack Short (SS) hitting eighth, followed by Taylor Trammell batting ninth and playing center field. Jake Meyers is out of the lineup again with a calf issue.



 

  Image via: MLB.com/Screenshot


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