If you’re a fan of good pitching and generally inept hitting, then Friday’s game between the Astros and Angels was meant for you. If you have read this blog in recent years, you’d possibly know that I am a big Cristian Javier fan. I’ve written about him on numerous occasions. I was eagerly waiting for […]
If you’re a fan of good pitching and generally inept hitting, then Friday’s game between the Astros and Angels was meant for you.
If you have read this blog in recent years, you’d possibly know that I am a big Cristian Javier fan. I’ve written about him on numerous occasions. I was eagerly waiting for his return from Tommy John surgery, and while the results in his starts not impacted by illness weren’t particularly noteworthy, it was nice to see him back on the mound once again.
Sooner or later, though, the Astros would need Javier to pitch a bit more effectively. Although any expectation that he would look like the 2022 version always felt a bit far-fetched, at least for this season. But five to six innings of respectable results would go a long way for a team that still lacks pitching depth. His start against the Angels, however, didn’t look far-fetched. Not in the slightest. In fact, it was a vintage Javier performance, with six no-hit innings, striking out six and walking three. With a fastball averaging around 93.4 mph, closer to his 2021 to 2022 form, the right-hander looked increasingly like his past self.
The Astros’ lineup, however, had an uneven night at the plate. To be positive, they did generate at least one baserunner in each inning. But as is the case for most of the season, for a team with one of the highest batting averages in baseball, this lineup doesn’t have an issue with getting runners on base. But driving them in remains an issue. I couldn’t think of a more opportune moment to break this game open than in the fourth inning, with the bases loaded and no outs. But Yainer Díaz couldn’t lay off the first pitch changeup to hit into a double play, followed up by a strikeout from Cam Smith.
Almost predictable at this point, right?
Even with baserunners across all innings, the Astros had a hard time getting any runs across. Thankfully, their fortunes would somewhat improve in the seventh inning, with Carlos Correa’s RBI single breaking the scoreless tie. Yordan Alvarez would also add an insurance run with his sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Ultimately, two runs were enough to best the Angels. Following Javier’s six innings, Joe Espada was able to piece together a win using Enyel De Los Santos, Craig Kimbrel, and Kaleb Ort for the last three innings. De Los Santos would allow a pair of hits to open the seventh, ending the no-hitter. But Ort, in particular, looked sharp, getting Jo Adell to fly out to end a bases-loaded threat with two outs in the eighth inning. And we also found out a bit why Craig Kimbrel was still available.
In any case, an Astros win and a Mariners loss — thank you, Cleveland — increases the former’s division lead to three games. Spencer Arrighetti gets the starting nod on Saturday, with the Angels countering with Kyle Hendricks.
Category: General Sports
