Why Houston Astros narrowly avoiding history was best-case scenario
ON SECOND THOUGHT
14 September 2023
ON SECOND THOUGHT
After losing the first two games of the series against the A's this week, the Astros looked to avoid the sweep and bounce back with Hunter Brown on the hill. And boy did they.
Hunter Brown pitched 5 no-hit innings leading to a crucial 6-2 win over Oakland. Brown had only thrown 78 pitches when manager Dusty Baker decided to make the call to the bullpen. Which was a controversial talking point after the game.
When asked about his decision to pull Brown after the fifth inning, Baker explained that Hunter's pitch count would have only allowed him to go one more inning, regardless of the no-hitter possibility.
Baker elaborated, saying it's been a struggle for Brown recently (24 earned runs in his last 30 innings prior to Wednesday) and he wanted to get him out of the game on a high note. Especially with a rested bullpen and an off-day on Thursday.
With one down in the 9th inning, closer Ryan Pressly allowed the first hit of the game. And it might have been the best thing for the Astros. Instead of celebrating a combined no-hitter while losing a crucial series to the A's, the team can keep their focus on taking care of business against the Royals this weekend.
Be sure to check out the video above as we discuss what Brown's performance means moving forward, if Baker made the right decision to pull Hunter Brown, and why missing out on another no-hitter might be for the best long-term.
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Peyton Manning had some very interesting comments recently about CJ Stroud's perceived sophomore slump last season. Much of the skepticism, Manning believes, comes from surface-level narratives. The Texans went 10-7 in the regular season last year, a step back from the lofty expectations set after C.J. Stroud’s electric rookie year and Houston’s dramatic playoff push.
And while the offense didn’t maintain its early-season explosion under Bobby Slowik, people seem to be overlooking how that same Texans team ended the year: as one of the last four teams standing in the AFC — alongside the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens.
Stroud has now won a playoff game in his first two seasons, while Manning didn't win his first playoff game until year six of his career.
With a new OC in house, and DeMeco Ryans leading the way, Manning likes what he's seeing from Stroud and the Texans moving forward.
It’s pretty cool watching Stroud take in praise from one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Manning gets it, and before long, the rest of the league and media will too.
Check out the video below to see the full conversation!
Peyton Manning on CJ Stroud at @FanaticsFest:
“He went to the playoffs in his 2nd year. He was 22. Let’s be careful saying it was a down year. I didn’t win a playoff game ‘til my SIXTH year. He’s 2 for 2.” pic.twitter.com/dtd9dU5Nj1
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) June 25, 2025
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