Astros 6, Blue Jays 5: Feldman, Long Ball Seal Series Win

It looked like it was going to be one of those games.  Things did not start out well for Scott Feldman.  After a K to start the first inning Feldman gave up a double, a wild pitch and a walk before Russell Martin hit a bases clearing triple to put the Jays on top quickly.  Justin Smoak followed with a single to drive in Martin and make the score 3-0.  Feldman retired the next two batters to get out of the inning.  It looked like it was going to be a long night.  But something changed between the first and second innings.  From the top of the second until he left the game with 2 outs in the 7th he only allowed 2 more hits and 2 more walks while striking out 8 more batters (for a total of 10 strikouts on the night).

The Astros started yet another comeback win in the third inning.  Altuve led off with an 8 pitch walk.  After 2 outs, Evan Gattis hit a home run up above the gas pump to make the score 3-2.  The score stayed the same until the 6th.  Toronto starter Marco Estrada was replaced by Jeff Francis, who immediately gave up a single to Preston Tucker and a ground-rule double to Colby Rasmus.  Most fans were hoping the struggling Chris Carter could just lift a fly ball deep enough to get Tucker home.  He did even better by hitting a 3-run home run into the right field bullpen to put Houston up 5-3.  Two batters later Marwin Gonzalez hit one out to almost the same spot to put them up 6-3.  (And that bullpen catcher was PUMPED about it.)

After Feldman left the game Josh Fields and Tony Sipp got them through until the 9th, with Sipp looking especially nasty striking out the side.  Luke Gregerson came in for the save.  He was a bit shaky in his first game back after his family emergency leave, giving up a walk and a pinch-hit home run to Edwin Encarnacion to make the game close. He still recorded the save, and the Astros have won yet another series (and four games in a row).

Tomorrow Collin McHugh will try for the sweep versus Mark Buehrle in the series finale at 1 pm.

Fun Facts

The Astros are now 21-0 when scoring 4 or more runs.

They also had their second 3-homer game in a row...and those 6 HR were by 6 different hitters.

According to tweets from Brian McTaggart, the Astros have now hit at least 3 HR in 12 games this season.  In 2014 they did it only 17 total times.  In all of 2013...11 times.

Tweets of the Night

Someone should tell him we can still see him...he's right there in the middle of the field.

Estrada hiding behind his glove and hat when looking in to get the sign is hilarious to me

— Dustin DeBerry (@dkdeberry) May 17, 2015

For the 2nd night in a row trying to decide if this is funny or creepy or both...

This is either a loose clubhouse or Feldman brought out "The Gimp." #Astros pic.twitter.com/3zfKtYQ98x

— Steve E. (@KevinBassStache) May 17, 2015

Money well spent...

@BenDuBose Not sure if that's even possible. Complete turn around. #takeaseat #grabsomepine pic.twitter.com/peOGkeJjKh

— Don Dougan (@don_dougan) May 17, 2015