Game Recap: Astros Beat Angels 3-1 Behind Keuchel’s Brilliant Outing

I think it is safe to say that I have not seen that good of a start from Dallas Keuchel in a long, long time. Tonight’s display was the equivalent of 2015 Keuchel, when he could place any pitch wherever he wanted to place it whenever he wanted to place it. His last three starts were really solid coming into this game, but nothing like tonight. Keuchel was on point in Los Angeles and deserves all the credit in this one.

On the night, Keuchel pitched 7.2 innings and finished with a line of only two hits allowed, one earned run allowed, five strikeouts, and only one walk. He threw 102 total pitches and induced 10 swinging strikes, good for a whiff rate of 9.8%. This whiff rate in general is not that stellar, but for a pitcher like Keuchel, it’s pretty spectacular.

Yes, there was the controversial Marwin Gonzalez play that led to Keuchel’s no hitter being blown in the seventh inning, but I actually am on the side that believes that ball should be scored a hit. Gonzalez had to jump on the play to make the catch (yes I know maybe it wasn’t a jump with full extension) and the ball was hit sharply off the bat of Justin Upton. Keuchel gave up another hit later in the game anyway, so I’m not too stressed about that play.

On the offensive side, Josh Reddick carried the load with a 2-4 evening that included a triple and a run batted in. Max Stassi was the only other Astro to record two hits on the night.

George Springer turned in a productive evening, recording a hit, a walk, and a run scored. Hopefully after the All Star Game, this is the start of something special for Springer as he looks to get on a roll here in the second half.

Out of the bullpen, Collin McHugh entered the game in the eighth inning and recorded only one out. Not too much action for McHugh, but it was good to see A.J. Hinch put him in the game with a two-run lead and only four outs needed to secure a victory.

Then, in the ninth inning, Hector Rondón came in to close out the game and he was able to do just that. Rondon recorded two strikeouts in his clean inning and simply did not mess around. He has been solid for the Astros all season long and, with Ken Giles in the minors, will need to keep up his great efforts from the first half.

Tomorrow night, Justin Verlander will take the mound for the Houston Astros in a nationally televised Saturday night game on FOX.

One final thought: With tonight’s win, the Houston Astros now have 65 wins in 100 games. That’s unreal and something I did not know was humanly possible just 4 or 5 years ago. Alright, good night.