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I have to say last week's games were much more fun. After a 10 game winning streak the bottom fell out this week against the Rangers, who completed the series sweep tonight with an 11-3 win. Colby Lewis scattered six hits and a walk in his eight innings. He only allowed one run long after the outcome was decided. The lone bright spots on offense were Chris Carter hitting a 2-run home run in the bottom of the ninth, and Evan Gattis going 2-4 with a double. Gattis hit the ball hard every time up tonight, as he has been doing the last couple of weeks.
The story of the team's downfall tonight begins and ends with Samuel Deduno. He did not look sharp from the word go. He walked two in the first inning but didn't give up any runs. The second inning is where it really took a bad turn. He gave up a no-doubt home run to Carlos Peguero, and later in the inning Shin-Soo Choo hit the most Crawford Boxes homer in the history of Crawford Boxes homers to put the Rangers up 4-0 early (for the second night in a row). It didn't get any better in the next inning as 3 more hits and a wild pitch brought two more runs across. In the 5th Deduno loaded the bases with no outs and gave up four more runs to make the score 10-0. In 4.2 innings he gave up 11 hits and 3 walks. Peguero would later add his 2nd home run of the night (and 3rd of the series) off of Will Harris.
If you are looking for any silver lining out of this game (and series) it is that the bullpen was asked to do a lot and they were successful. Over the last 2 games they pitched a total of 10.1 innings and only gave up 4 hits, 2 runs and 1 walk. They also struck out 14. Oh, also we are 10-3 in our last 13 games...not too shabby!
So yeah, we lost 3 in a row. And yeah, it was to the Rangers which makes us feel exponentially worse. But we get to head back out on the road and try to get a little more of that Cali magic we had last week. And a few of us are also excited we get to see Preston Tucker make his Major League debut. Maybe tomorrow night! Start time versus the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Orange County, California is 9 pm Houston time. Collin McHugh will try to get the team back in the W column against Hector Santiago.
Fun Facts
Will Harris had his consecutive scoreless appearances streak stopped at 25. Impressive pickup by the team.
Also, this was pretty funny...
Tweet of the Night
It's a first baseman two-fer!
AJ Reed (@ajreed18UK) just hit a grand slam for @JetHawks his 2nd HR of the game and 7th on the season! He has 7 RBI tonight! Astros?src=hash">#Astros
Jon Singleton (@iLLJAY_SiNG) with another HR for @FresnoGrizzlies his 2nd in the game and 7th on the season! #Astros
Oh...and just a reminder
.@astros call up @MiLB HR & RBI leader Preston Tucker from @FresnoGrizzlies. #15 on HOU 30: http://t.co/ZXGqZ4cxAa pic.twitter.com/Nc0Z99wlk2