Houston's rally comes up short
Astros' losing streak extends to four with another loss to Royals
Aug 18, 2021, 10:06 pm
Zack Greinke tossed another quality start on Wednesday, but it wouldn't be enough to end Houston's losing streak. Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images
Zack Greinke tossed another quality start on Wednesday, but it wouldn't be enough to end Houston's losing streak.
The Astros entered Wednesday's game, the third of this series, in great need of a momentum shift to snap their losing streak. Despite a late clutch hit to put them ahead, the Royals would one-up them again to hand them their fourth loss in a row.
Final Score: Royals 3, Astros 2
Astros' Record: 70-50, first in the AL West
Winning Pitcher: Blake Taylor (2-4)
Losing Pitcher: Domingo Tapia (1-0)
Greinke posts another quality start
After three and a half quiet innings on both sides, the Royals started the scoring against Zack Greinke in the bottom of the fourth. They notched three straight singles with one out, the third an RBI single to grab a 1-0 lead. Greinke rebounded and remained in control, though, ultimately finishing six innings while allowing just that one run for a quality start. His final line: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 85 P.
Houston finally backs him up in the seventh
Jason Castro with a clutch two-out hit!#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/kc1AYF0SLY
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 19, 2021
After struggling to get anything going against Brady Singer, making his second start since returning from injury, the Astros finally started a rally in the seventh. Managing just three hits in the six innings prior, they loaded the bases with two outs on two singles and a walk, reaching the catcher's spot in the lineup, which Dusty Baker would use to swap Martin Maldonado for Jason Castro. That move proved correct, as Castro would deliver a two-RBI single to give the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Astros drop fourth straight despite late rally attempt
Blake Taylor took over for Greinke in the bottom of the seventh, looking to maintain the new one-run lead against the left-handed portion of Kansas City's lineup. The Royals pounced on him, getting a leadoff double then a two-run go-ahead homer to go back on top 3-2. He would get a strikeout against his third batter but was then removed for Kendall Graveman, who finished the frame.
He remained on the mound in the bottom of the eighth, working around a single and hit batter to keep it a one-run game going to the ninth. The Astros would start the top of the ninth with the tying run at the plate, and after a pair of one-out singles, would get it in scoring position and eventually bring Jose Altuve to the plate. He nearly tied it up; getting a single, but a great throw to the plate by Andrew Benintendi would ruin Houston's hopes, dropping their fourth in a row and giving the Royals the first three of this set to secure the series victory.
Up Next: This series's fourth and final game and Houston's last of this road trip will be an afternoon start at 1:10 PM Central on Thursday. Mike Minor (8-11, 5.35 ERA) will take the mound for the Royals, while Luis Garcia (9-6, 3.30 ERA) will start for the Astros.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.