Astros set franchise record with 104th win of the year
Astros daily report presented by APG&E: 2 hits from the 3-0 win
Sep 25, 2019, 11:44 pm
Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images
After an absolute gem by Gerrit Cole the night before lifting the Astros to a franchise record-tying 103rd win, Houston was back in Seattle on Wednesday night to wrap up the season series with the Mariners and continue their quest to lock up the best record in the league. Here is a quick rundown of the game:
Final Score: Astros 3, Mariners 0.
Record: 104-54, first in the AL West.
Winning pitcher: Zack Greinke (18-5, 2.93 ERA).
Losing pitcher: Yusei Kikuchi (6-11, 5.46 ERA).
1) Greinke nearly completes first career no-hitter
Zack Greinke had a tough road in front of him in terms of trying to follow Gerrit Cole's great night in the game on Tuesday. He stood up to the challenge, retiring every batter he faced until he allowed a walk in the bottom of the sixth, which turned into an inning-ending double play.
That would go down as the only baserunner for Seattle through the first eight innings, as Greinke would take a no-hitter into the ninth inning. He would allow a one-out single in the bottom of the ninth, followed by another to prompt A.J. Hinch out of the dugout to go to his bullpen and bring in Will Harris to get the last two outs. Greinke's final line: 8.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 0 HR.
64 MPH filth. 🤮 pic.twitter.com/mioKC5Vk2AÂ
— MLB (@MLB) September 26, 2019
2) Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez get Houston on the board, Tucker homers late
Houston wasted no time getting some runs on the board, getting a leadoff single by George Springer who would score from first on an RBI-double by Alex Bregman. Bregman would score on an RBI-double by Yordan Alvarez in the next at-bat, creating an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
Alex Bregman would finish with another efficient night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with the RBI. Those two would end up being the only runs scored until the ninth inning, when Kyle Tucker would hit a leadoff solo homer to extend the lead to 3-0.
Up Next: Houston will begin their final series of the regular season, a four-game set in Los Angeles against the Angels, with the opening game Thursday at 9:07 PM. Wade Miley (14-6, 3.91 ERA) will get another chance to show that he hasn't completely fallen off the wagon for the Astros, while the Angels are expected to start Jaime Barria (4-10, 6.43 ERA).
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.
ÂA statement series
ÂThe 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.
ÂA shift in expectations?
ÂThis 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.
ÂIs help on the way?
ÂReliever 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.
ÂBackground noise in LA
ÂNo 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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