The AL West gap only grows, and the Astros’ playoff hopes dim by the day.
The Astros got some good news this Sunday evening when the Guardians fell to the Twins. This gave them a 1/2 game lead for the final Wildcard spot coming into their final game against the Mariners.
At the moment, they need all the positive developments they can get, seeing as though it’s going to be a dog fight for the postseason over the final six games. Between Seattle, Boston, and Cleveland, there is little margin for error, and the best players have to show up on a nightly basis.
Speaking of best players, Jason Alexander(4-1, 3.98 ERA, 61 SO) has been one of those for Houston throughout the course of the entire season. He took the ball today against Seattle hurler Logan Gilbert (5-6, 3.50 ERA, 164 SO).
It’s been an abysmal offensive series thus far for the ‘Stros, but what else is new. Over the first two games, they’ve scored a total of four runs on 13 hits. What contributed to that was them going 1-13 with RISP and having left 12 men on base.
I’m sorry (not sorry), but even the crowd who has defended the hitting ideology of the coaches and players over the last two seasons can’t justify the kind of overwhelming futility that we have had the displeasure of observing. It’s an abomination of epic proportions and it needs to be addressed in the offseason.
But, that’s for another time. For now, they just need to salvage at least one victory in the series. If not, they can kiss the AL West goodbye for good and start planning for the Wildcard. (or maybe their trips to Cancun, just in case)
First Pitch: 6:12 CDT
Top of the 2nd Inning:
*SIGH* Well… I guess it was his turn, huh?
Going into the second inning, the last time Jason Alexander gave up more than three runs in a game was against the A’s on July 24th (5 ER). He more than matched that this evening, and all it took was an inning and same change.
First, he allowed the bases to be loaded after three straight singles to lead off the inning. He then walked Victor Robles to give the Mariners a 1-0 lead. If only that were the extent of the damage..
Afterwards, the floodgates opened when J.P. Crawford launched a ball 365 feet over the right field wall for a backbreaking Grand Slam and 5-0 lead. Two batters later, Cal Raleigh hit his 58th homer of the year to score Randy Arozarena and increase the lead to 7-0. Joe Espada then pulled Jason for Enyel De Los Santos.
Thanks for the save Joe. The game certainly could have gotten out of hand if you hadn’t stepped in when you did.
Jason Alexander’s final line of the regular season: 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 HR’s, 7 ER, and now a 4.83 ERA.
Bottom of the 3rd Inning:
Zach Cole got the home team on the board with 443 foot fly ball to right field. This made it 7-1.
Just have to chip away I guess? And yes, I’ll be that guy again and point out how by then the Astros were already 0-4 with RISP and 3 LOB.
According to Teamrankings.com, they actually are tied with the Yankees for 20th (10th worst) in baseball at runners left on base per game at 6.92.
I repeat, offseason changes with the offense MUST be a priority.
Bottom of the 7th Inning:
Two singles, a wild pitch, and an RBI-single by jose Altuve dropped the deficit to five runs and made it 7-2.
Bottom of the 8th Inning:
Isaac Paredes then hit a solo shot to the Crawford Boxes in the bottom of the 8th inning to make it 7-3.
It’s good to have that boom stick back in the lineup.
Bottom of the 9th Inning:
Matt Brash struck out Jose Altuve to end the game and complete the series sweep.
Astros lose by a final score of 7-3.
Looking ahead:
Being out of the playoffs again due to the tiebreaker advantage going the Guardians (84-72) way, the Astros begin their penultimate road series of the regular season against the A’s (73-83). It will be Cristian Javier (2-3, 4.45 ERA, 30 SO) going up against Jeffrey Springs (10-11, 4.17 ERA, 135 SO).
With the Mariners now owning a three game lead for the AL West crown, the only hope for October baseball is for the Astros to pretty much win their final six games in a row to make the Wildcard.
Can they do it? I have no idea. Are they capable? Recent history says not. But, baseball is baseball after all.
Category: General Sports
