Houston drops the middle game
Toro's slam off Graveman lifts Mariners over Astros
Sep 1, 2021, 12:34 am
Kendall Graveman's grand slam allowed to Abraham Toro was the difference in Tuesday's loss. Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images
Kendall Graveman's grand slam allowed to Abraham Toro was the difference in Tuesday's loss.
After notching the comeback win the night before to start the series with a win, the Astros were hoping to lock up another series victory with a win in the middle game. Instead, the Mariners would set up a rubber game, getting a late grand slam, the lone run-scoring play of the night.
Final Score: Mariners 4, Astros 0
Astros' Record: 78-54, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Paul Sewald (9-3)
Losing Pitcher: Kendall Graveman (5-1)
Both starters stymie the opposing offense
Both teams would have chances but remain off the board against the opposing starter on Tuesday. Houston had a runner in scoring position in the second, fourth, and sixth innings against Yusei Kikuchi but would strand it each time as he would go seven scoreless innings for Seattle.
As for Lance McCullers Jr., he dealt with much more significant threats, starting in the bottom of the first, where he would load the bases on a single and two walks, eventually getting out of the lengthy inning unscathed. He rebounded with 1-2-3 innings in the second and third but would again find himself in trouble in the fourth. Like the first inning, he would load the bases but stranded all three runners, then returned for a 1-2-3 fifth, but with his pitch count elevated, he would end his night there. His final line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 102 P.
Toro gets some revenge against his former team
That set up Houston's bullpen to take over in the bottom of the sixth, and first up was Yimi Garcia, who sat down the Mariners in order in the bottom of the sixth. Blake Taylor took over in the bottom of the seventh and did the same to keep the game gridlocked 0-0.
Still scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, former-Mariner Kendall Graveman came in, and in a "you can't make this stuff up" moment, he would load the bases to bring up Abraham Toro, setting up a battle of the players who were part of the trade for each other. Toro would come out on top, launching a grand slam to put Seattle in front 4-0.
A SLAM TO BREAK A SCORELESS TIE! pic.twitter.com/v5KaBORWdf
— MLB (@MLB) September 1, 2021
Astros drop the middle game
After the grand slam, Graveman would be pulled in favor of Brandon Bielak, who retired both batters he faced to finish the eighth. In the top of the ninth, the Astros would put two runners on base but would again get turned away as Seattle would close out the win to even the series at a game apiece.
Up Next: The finale of this three-game series to decide the series victory will be an afternoon start, getting underway at 3:10 PM Central. Jake Odorizzi (6-6, 4.46 ERA) will be Houston's starter, going opposite Logan Gilbert (5-5, 5.44 ERA) for Seattle.
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The Texans make just their third ever visit to Lambeau Field Sunday. It’s a dandy matchup as the Texans try to run their record to 6-1 at the expense of the 4-2 Green Bay Packers. The Texans have one win and one loss in Wisconsin. In 2008 the gameday high temperature was 13 degrees. Kris Brown kicked a 40 yard field goal as time expired to give the Texans a 24-21 win over a Packers team that struggled to a 6-10 record under first-year starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Texans posted their second consecutive 8-8 finish that year. In 2016 the mercury reached a balmy high of 34 degrees as the Texans fell 21-13 at Lambeau. Inexplicably, Rodgers somehow managed to win the quarterback matchup with Brock Osweiler. The Texans and Packers each won their division that year. Both Texans’ trips to “America’s Dairyland” occurred in December. No risk of frozen tundra this time around. The forecast for Green Bay Sunday calls for a high of 75 degrees! That’s almost 20 degrees warmer than normal there for October 20.
It’s a dynamic QB matchup with C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love sharing the field. Love broke out in a huge way in 2023 after serving a two-year apprenticeship under Rodgers. After a stumbling 3-6 start to their season the Packers went 6-2 the rest of the way to snag a playoff spot. They obliterated the Cowboys in a Wild Card game in Arlington (before everyone obliterated the Cowboys in Arlington...) then led at the 49ers with under 90 seconds to go before San Francisco scored to win 24-21. The Packers made crystal clear their belief in Love by signing him to a four-year 220 million dollar contract extension in July. That’s 55 mil per season. Stroud becomes extension-eligible after next season. Anyone think he won’t be in position to command at least 65 mil per season?
Stroud sure looks to be the guy to finally give the Texans the long-term stability and excellence they have never had at the most important position in the sport. The Pack is all in on Love continuing its unreal long-term QB stability and excellence. Love took the reins after Rodgers helmed the offense for 15 seasons. Rodgers took the reins after Brett Favre’s 16-year tenure. So if Love makes it for nine years as the starter, that’s three primary QBs in 40 years. Absolutely amazing.
After missing two games because of a sprained knee ligament suffered in the final seconds of the Packers’ season opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil, Love has thrown 10 touchdown passes in three games. But he has only completed 59 percent of his passes, and has thrown at least one interception per game.
The Texans’ first trip to the NFC North this season went brutally badly, the 34-7 beatdown from Minnesota. The Vikings beat the Packers 31-29 in week four of the season. That was Love’s first game back, he threw four touchdown passes and three picks. One defensive weapon the Texans will have against the Pack they did not have against the Vikes is Denico Autry. The 34-year-old Autry returns from his six-game banned substance suspension. That happens as one of the fill-ins for him, Mario Edwards, starts his own four-game substance abuse suspension. That should be a net improvement for the Texans.
X-factors
The single biggest variable in swinging the outcome of football games is turnovers. So far this season the Packers have been a takeaway machine. Last season the Packers generated just 18 turnovers over their 17 regular season games, only six teams took the ball away less often. Through just six games this season the Packers already have 17 takeaways. No other NFL team has more than 13, the Texans have just seven. The Packers have produced exactly three turnovers in five of their six games, and got two in the other. Every defense preaches turnovers, so it’s not as if first-year Green Bay defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has introduced radical concepts that are yielding magical results. But the results are what they are.
If the Texans take care of the ball, they have a terrific chance to win. Having Joe Mixon back aids the cause on two fronts. One, Mixon is obviously the Texans’ best running back. Two, Mixon last fumbled in 2021. The Texans probably best plan to score 25 or more points to win this one because the Packers figure to score a bit. In Love’s four starts the Pack has lit the scoreboard for 29, 29, 24, and 34 points. On the other hand, the Texans’ D has been pretty stout, allowing the third-fewest yards per game (Green Bay rates 18th). It’s a strength vs. strength battle. The Texans have allowed no opponent more than 313 yards in total offense. The Packers have amassed at least 378 yards in five of their six games, and managed 328 in their worst performance.
For Texans’ conversation, catch Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me on our Texans On Tap podcasts. Thursdays feature a preview of the upcoming game, and then we go live (then available on demand) after the final gun of the game: Texans on Tap - YouTube
The Astros are always in season for discussion. Our Stone Cold ‘Stros podcasts drop Mondays: Click here to watch!