An extra inning defeat in Seattle that finished after midnight in Texas. That stings for a variety of reasons, including the delay of my bed time.
There’s plenty of bad to dissect in this game. Most importantly, as it pertains to the state of the lineup, Isaac Paredes was lost due to right hamstring “discomfort”. Based on how he looked limping down the first base line, I don’t think we can expect him back anytime soon. This lineup is in dire need of reinforcements in the near future, preferably by tomorrow. Whether those hitters come from the IL, Sugar Land, or even Corpus Christi is anyone’s guess.
One of the main issues in this particular game was the early hole that the Astros found themselves in. Lance McCullers Jr. clearly has diminished stuff, especially with a fastball that is maxing out below 94 mph. He lasted only 2 2⁄3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits and three walks. Only one strikeout, by the way, with Mariners’ hitters whiffing just three times on 28 swings. In other words, they weren’t fooled and McCullers can only throw so many breaking and offspeed pitches. Without a reliable fastball, no matter the role, the right-hander has become a liability on the mound. It’s a separate conversation, but I can’t envision a scenario that McCullers remains a starter once another arm is available.
Down 4-1 after three innings with Paredes hurt and McCullers only getting eight outs, it was easy to envision a possible blowout incoming. But the Astros’ lineup were able to scratch out four more runs, including a three-run spot in the sixth inning. A 5-4 lead with this lineup was about a best case scenario, with the hope that an above average bullpen could finish the job.
About that…
Everything was proceeding as hoped for with Steven Okert, Ryan Gusto, Bennett Sousa, and Bryan King all having scoreless appearances. Credit to them for keeping the Mariners off the scoreboard. More times than not, you have to feel good getting the ball to Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader with a lead. That’s been a great combination for most of the season. Well, for except for Abreu when Houston plays Seattle. For, I think, the fourth time this season, Abreu has coughed up a lead against the Mariners. For a team breathing down your necks in the division, that’s not optimal. A wild pitch allowed Randy Arozarena to score from third and the game was tied 5-5.
The ninth came and went, with Josh Hader throwing a scoreless frame. The Astros would actually score in the tenth inning to make it 6-5. With a bullpen that has only a couple of options left, Hader was back on the mound. Alas, he gave up the tying run himself in a bizarre series of events involving an inside pitch and the knob of Dylan Moore’s bat. In any case, Hader couldn’t cleanly field the ball as the runner scored from third, and the lefty settled for the second out at first base. The game was now tied again, 6-6.
Houston’s lineup couldn’t generate anything in the eleventh inning, Héctor Neris pitched the bottom of the eleventh, allowing the winning run when Cole Young singled in Dominic Canzone.
The Astros’ AL West lead is now down to three games. I’m upset with the swing decisions from Chas McCormick and Yainer Díaz. There probably needs to be a McCullers-related conversation in the front office. At least Hunter Brown starts Sunday in hopes of avoiding the sweep, with Bryan Woo starting for the Mariners. The pitching nerd in me is looking forward to that matchup. But I’m not looking forward to see what Houston’s lineup looks like.