The Astros have been outscored 33-5 in their last 4 games.
Coming off a series against the Orioles where they were outscored 23-5, and yet still maintaining a 1.5 game lead for the AL West somehow, the Astros just need wins. How do they get them? Beats me, but with 37 games left in the regular season, they need them in any way they can get them. Between an offense that seemingly shrinks every time they have a runner reach 2nd base, and a patchwork pitching staff that has given up an average of 7 runs/game over the last 6 games, a road matchup against the Detroit Tigers doesn’t seem like the most ideal of situations to find themselves in. Yet, here we are.
The boys traveled to Comerica Park today to begin a 3 game road series against the Tigers and RHP Jack Flaherty,(6-12, 4.73 ERA, 155 SO) who have won 7 of their last 10 games. Spencer Arrighetti(1-3, 6.05 ERA, 18 SO) took the ball for the Astros, looking to avenge a loss against the Red Sox where he gave up only 1 hit and 2 ER.(also had 5 walks and 3 K’s)
With a 34-24 record against teams above .500, perhaps the ‘Stros get back on the right track by tapping into what made them successful so early in the season.
First Pitch: 6:40 EDT
After the game was tied 0-0 for the first 3.1 innings, the Tigers took the lead 1-0 in the bottom of the 4th on a Wenceel Pérez home run to right center off Arrighetti. (Might as well be an 8-0 lead with how the offense has been playing)
Fast forward to the bottom of the 5th, and indeed it was the “bottom”. As in, the bottom fell out for Arrighetti when the Tigers exploded for 4 runs via a double, walk, triple, and homer by Keith, Torres, Carpenter, and Greene respectively to make it 5-0. (The Tigers hit for the cycle as a team in the inning after a Wenceel Pérez single a couple of batters later)
Taylor Scott replaced Spencer Arrighetti in the bottom of the 6th, but a triple by Trey Sweeney and sac fly by Colt Keith then made it 6-0 anyway. Spencer’s night ended with a stat line of: 7 Hits, 4 walks, 5 K’s, 2 HR’s, and 5 ER’s.(Also now has a 6.94 ERA)
The Tigers then hung another 4 run inning on Taylor Scott and the Astros in the bottom of the 7th via a 3-run Trey Sweeney homer and solo shot by Colt Keith. 10-0. Bryan King replaced Scott afterward to strike out Gleyber Torres and end the inning. (Tay Scott only pitched 1.2 innings but gave up 5 runs on 2 homers and 5 hits total, and now has a 7.90 ERA)
Jack Flaherty’s dominant night was over by the 8th, as he finished with: 3 hits, 1 walk, 9 K’s, 0 runs, and a lower ERA with 4.51. Reliever Troy Melton then retired Cam Smith, Jacob Melton, and Jeremy Peña in order to end the top quickly.
Chas McCormick then pitched a scoreless bottom of the 8th after loading the bases. That was fun, and Kalas did a good job of making it sound even more interesting.
Tomorrow is a certified D-Town Classic, as hometown kid Hunter Brown(10-5, 2.45 ERA, 164 SO) takes the mound for the Astros against AL Cy-Young favorite Tarik Skubal(11-3, 2.42 ERA, 190 SO). Maybe the Astros pick themselves up off the mat and get a surprise win against one of the best pitchers in baseball, as they seek to continue keeping the Mariners at bay for the AL West.
Category: General Sports