Astros 5, Angels 4; This Is Fun!

These are the teams without a five game winning streak, in no particular order:

1. Baltimore
2. Toronto
3. Chicago (White Sox)
4. Kansas City
5. Texas
6. Seattle
7. Phildelphia
   
8. Miami
9. Pittsburgh
10. San Diego
11. Los Angeles (Dodgers)

National experts likely would have (or have) pegged the Astros to be the last team to accomplish such a feat.

Jordan Lyles continued to build on his recent success allowing only two runs in 5.2 innings of work. He struck out five, walked one and gave up six hits. He has a 1.90 ERA in his last four starts, 23.2 innings. This season Lyles has gone at least five innings and allowed three runs or less in six of his seven starts. The one blemish was his May 12 start against the Texas Rangers in which he surrendered eight runs in four innings. He still needs to work deeper into games on a regular basis but the signs so far are encouraging for his development as a pitcher.*

Maybe I was too quick to jump off the Doug Brocail wagon.

The Astros offense did just enough to help Lyles collect his third win of the season by scoring five runs on nine hits and zero walks. They did, however, continue their march towards the major league strikeout record with another 12 strike outs.

Carlos Corporan and Carlos Pena each hit a solo home run. JD Martinez and Matt Dominguez were the other two hitters to drive in Astros. Brandon Barnes and Pena were the only two astros with multiple hits.

The bullpen wasn't terrible Travis Blackely and Hector Ambriz each pitched a perfect innings. Brad Peacock pitched a shutout eighth inning but allowed a two run home run in the ninth to put the margin for error at one run. Thankfully, Ambriz got the next three batters to avoid another heart breaker for Astros fans.

This is fun!