Astros 6, Blue Jays 4: Welcome to Minute Maid, Preston Tucker

The Astros homestand took on an international flavour tonight as they faced off against our neighbours from the Great White North, the Blue Jays.  After earning a split in the micro-interleague series yesterday with a comeback win, they overcame a deficit again tonight to take the first game of the four game series.

Roberto Hernandez had a rough first inning as he gave up back-to-back solo home runs to Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion to fall behind 2-0 early.  In the bottom of the inning Jose Altuve collected a single and stole second before scoring on a Luis Valbuena double out to Tal's Hill to make the score 2-1.  The Jays got that run back in the third with a walk and a double for a 3-1 lead

After Altuve led off the 6th with a double he moved to third and then scored the Astros second run on a couple of groundouts.  Hernandez would load the bases in the top of the 7th with no outs, but Josh Fields came in and limited the damage to one run on a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-2 Toronto.

In the bottom of the 7th the Astros bats came alive and took the lead.  Jason Castro started the inning with a single followed by a walk by Chris Carter.  2015 Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate Preston Tucker drove in Castro with a double down the left field line, his 3rd hit of the night (and second double).  Jonathan Villar followed that up by chopping a double over first base to score Carter and Tucker to take the lead 5-4.  Villar moved to third on a sacrifice fly.  Altuve was intentionally walked to set up the double play.  Altuve then stole his 2nd base of the night, and on the throw the Blue Jays shortstop thought he had caught the ball and applied the tag.  He raised his glove to show the umpire...but the ball was on the ground allowing Villar to score the Astros 6th run.

Pat Neshek and Chad Qualls closed out the 8th and 9th innings to preserve the win.  Game 2 of the series is tomorrow night at 7 as Dallas Keuchel will take the mound versus knuckleballer R.A. Dickey.

Fun Facts

The Astros are now 19-0 when scoring 4 or more runs in a game.

Preston Tucker, playing in his first regular season game at Minute Maid Park, had a great night.  He went 3-4 with 2 doubles, an RBI, and scored the go-ahead run.

Marisnick's regression has begun.  His batting average has dropped almost exactly 100 points since the 10 game winning streak ended.

The Astros had no homers tonight, but of their 8 hits, 5 were doubles.

Tweet of the Night

Only one?  All night?  I wouldn't know how to react if we were talking about Houston...

And there's the first #Whiff of the night for the second out of the 9th! #Astros

— #VoteAstros (@astros) May 15, 2015

Uhh...my stomach doesn't feel well thinking about that number of weiners in bulk...

Official tally of steamin' weenies sold Wednesday night at MMP: 16,403.

— Alyson Footer (@alysonfooter) May 15, 2015