Astros 6, White Sox 5: Castro, Fowler lead the way for Astros win

Jason Castro and the Astros gang have a fondness for 11 hits, they have had that exact amount in six of their last seven games. Not surprising, Houston has won four of those six games. With their 6-5 win Saturday, the Astros are now one win away from back-to-back series victories since mid-August last season.

Hector Noesi didn't have 'it' in the first inning, he was no where near close to having 'it'. The Astros were able to go through their entire batting order before the inning was over. The first out of the inning wasn't record until the fifth batter came to the plate and the score read 4-0 Astros. George Springer plated the Astros' first run with a long line drive that was finally collected at the top of Tal's hill. Jose Altuve scored on Springer's stand up triple. Dexter Fowler walked and continued to walk home on Jason Castro three-run homer.

The Astros would have runner on second and third later in the inning. They were unable to score as Moises Sierra contorted himself in way to put his glove under Marwin Gonzalez's looping popup that appeared destined to plate two.

Jarred Cosart appeared to be poised to give up his early lead in the second. Cosart gave up a walk to Adam Dunn and a single to Dayan Viciedo, then moved them over with a wild pitch. Dunn would score on a sac-fly. Cosart would walk the next two batters he faced. Cosart was able to limit the damage to two runs as George Springer and Marc Krauss doubled up Alejandro De Aza going to third on a fly-out. The White Sox would score another run in the third after Gordon Beckham lead off the inning with a double. Cosart would settle down, giving up zero walks and zero runs in the remainder of his outing.

Dexter Fowler lead off the fifth with a solo home run to Crawford Boxes. Fowler has been on a tear of late - hitting .400 (8-20) over his last six games. He has accounted for five runs, a triple, a home run, three RBIs, and ten walks during that stretch. The Astros' centerfielder may not have had the kind of "grit" the Rockies were looking for, but he does (to quote Teddy Roosevelt) "speak softly, and carry a big stick". I couldn't be happier he's in the Astros lineup.

The bullpen took over for the Astros in the sixth, Josh Fields struck out two of the four batters he faced. Tony Sipp remained perfect with a clean sheet in the seventh, and it was at that point Kyle Farnsworth make his Astros debut in the eighth. It wasn't a good first go around, the White Sox quickly had runners on second and third with no outs - Dayan Viciedo walked, moved to third on a Alexei Ramirez double, and scored on Alejandro De Aza sac-fly. After popping up Tyler Flowers, Farnsworth allowed a walk to Moises Sierra and a run scoring single to Gordon Beckham. Farnsworth failed to get out of the inning. If this trend continues I suspect the righty's time with Houston will be short, and you can add the Astros to Farnsworth's revenge list.

Chad Qualls closed out the game with a one-two-three inning for the save. The Astros send out Brad Peacock (0-4) to face John Danks (3-3) in the Sunday rubber match.