Game Recap: Blackmon Jacks One. Walk-Off Blast Beats Astros 3-2.

Somehow it seems like the team that only got one hit got robbed.

I know, that makes no sense. The Rockies had eight hits and two home runs. The Astros got only one hit, no home runs, and only three runners in scoring position. And yet.......

In the sixth inning, with the Astros already winning 2-1, Alex Bregman led off with a smash to deep left field. The ball bounced off the top of the wall, and Bregman had a triple, no outs.

Upon review, it was determined that an ASTROS FAN touched the ball in play ever so slightly, and thus Bregman was called out due to fan interference. It seems to this observer that the left fielder would not have made a play, but of course, I’m biased, but if so, the interference call probably cost the Astros a run and possibly the game.

Then there’s the seventh. The Rockies managed two weak, bloop singles, one off Joe Smith, the other off Collin Mchugh, who came in after Tony Sipp walked Charlie Blackmon. With the bases loaded and one out lethal Nolan Arenado popped up near the third base line. It looked like an easy out and then the Stros would be almost out of the jam. Third baseman J.D. Davis caught the fly, then fell into the Astros dugout. By the time he dug himself out of the dugout, with a little help from his friends, speedy and alert Raimel Tapia tagged up from third and was safe at home, Davis’ hurried throw coming in too high for catcher Max Stassi. Arenado got credit for an RBI sac fly on a ball hit fifty feet. Score tied.

Possibly the Astros’ best reliever this year, if anyone could hold the Rockies in the rare mile high air, it would be Collin McHugh. McHugh got the third out in the seventh inning, pitched a scoreless eighth inning, but then with one out gave up the Blackmon blast that gave the Rockies the 3-2 win.

Quite a shame to waste another fine pitching performance by an Astros starter. Charlie Morton held the Rockies to one run, on a Carlos Gonzalez home run, on four hits and five strikeouts. His control was a bit shaky, allowing 4 walks, and yet he left the game with a one run lead, dramatically striking out Garrett Hampson with runners on second and third to preserve the lead and end his night.

The Astros scored their only runs in the fourth on a Jose Altuve double that scored Alex Bregman. Altuve would eventually score with the help of a Rockies error, a catcher’s interference, and a Marwin Gonzalez RBI ground out.

That was it for the Astros offense in the Mile HIgh City. Ya really need to hit better than that if you expect to win in Denver, but give some credit to the Rockies starter, Jon Gray as well. Wade Davis, loser last night, got the win this game. Collin McHugh got his first blown save of the year (on the pop up play) and his first loss against five wins.

One note. Jose Altuve left the game with knee discomfort. Let us hope that this innocuous sounding injury keeps him out less time than Carlos Correa’s “back tightness.” Or, heaven forbid, we should be so lucky that it is not longer. Although he left the game, he did not leave the dugout.

The Astros are off tomorrow and resume play Friday at Minute Maid Park against the “team” that plays directly north of Houston.

Box score and videos here.