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And things were going so well.
Bud Norris was cruising through another game against the White Sox. It looked like the Astros might be able to return the favor to Chicago for that other four-game sweep with one that had drastically different circumstances. Still, it would have been nice to sweep a four game set in this godforsaken year.
Yet, with one ill-timed slider to Dayan Viciedo, the Astro night crumbled into a loss. Viciedo cleared the bases with a triple off Norris to center field, turning a 2-1 Astros lead into a 4-2 White Sox win.
Norris finished the night with six innings of work, eight hits and four runs allowed while striking out four and walking no one. The right-hander lost for the second consecutive start, dropping his season record to 5-7.
It got worse in the bottom of the sixth, though. A white-hot top of Houston's order set up a perfect run-scoring opportunity, as Brandon Barnes and Jose Altuve led off the frame with singles. That put runners on first and third with outs.
Too bad Matt Thornton struck out Jason Castro, J.D. Martinez and Chris Carter to end the threat. Houston never really mustered much of an offensive threat again in the game. The Astros struck out 12 times as the White Sox threw five different pitchers.
Still, the top of the order, including Castro, was excellent. Barnes, Altuve and Castro combined to go 7 for 14 in the game with two runs scored and two RBIs. Both of those runs batted in came on Castro doubles while Brandon Barnes added a pair of stolen bases and Jose Altuve swiped his 13th base of the season.
It was a tough loss, but Houston won the series. Maybe that success will continue against Milwaukee on Tuesday.
