Offensive anemia continues.
Maybe Ryan Pressly’s days as an effective reliever are done.
That doesn’t mean the Astros can’t score more than two or three runs once in a while.
The game looked winnable after the second inning. Although the Twins jumped to an early two-run lead with one run each in the first and second innings, the Astros took the lead after a solo Victor Caratini homer in the second and a two-run bomb by red-hot Breggy in the third inning.
After his usual sluggish early innings, Astros starter Hunter Brown settled down nicely, not allowing another run until the sixth inning, when Jose Miranda tied the score with a solo homer, the second since Trevor Larnach’s in the first inning.
Brown ended with a quality start, allowing three runs, five hits, and one walk while striking out seven. After looking like a major-league washout earlier in the season, Hunter Brown appears to be finding his place in a major league rotation.
The much-improved Astros bullpen minus one continued its fine work, With Bryan Abreu and Rafael Montero notching scoreless innings.
The minus one of course is Ryan Pressly, who deservedly notched the loss, walking the lead off runner, who scored on a Miranda double. It is Pressly’s third loss with no wins or saves to go with four blown saves.
Of course, a familiar offensive pattern emerged helping the Astros to their second straight series loss and fifth loss in the last seven games. The Astros had only six hits, and were only 1-6 with runners in scoring position (the one hit did not score a run). The low point was the bottom of the seventh inning. With a runner on second and one out, Kyle Tucker flied out. With the bases loaded and two outs, Yordan Alvarez also flied out.
The would-be winning or tying run that didn’t score from second on a Bregman single that inning was Jose Abreu. Wondering why there was no pinch-runner once he reached second.
The Astros don’t get to ponder their ineptitude for long. The Cardiansl are in twon tomorrow to face Justin Verlander, 7:10 CT.